History in Full Circle: The Chinese Canadian Museum 永生號的前世今生

Newly settled into its permanent home, the Chinese Canadian Museum (CCM) opens its doors to the public this July in Vancouver Chinatown, with exceptional new gallery spaces to explore the rich and complex histories and culture of the Chinese Canadian community. The strong ‘sense of place’ of the museum is a story within a story within a story, and one that all urban design and history enthusiasts will love. Located in the historic Wing Sang Building at 51 E Pender Street, the museum venue is a remarkable heritage site that marks many Chinese experiences throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries and played a significant role in the social, economic, and cultural life of residents in Chinatown.

Chinese Canadian Museum officially opens to the public 華裔博物館盛大開幕

The opening weekend was a whirlwind of activity and a phenomenal success. Community members from across Canada and the United States came to celebrate our grand opening festivities. We are so grateful for all of the support, to the committed and hardworking board, to the staff, to the artists that we have commissioned, to everyone that contributed to making the Chinese Canadian Museum a success.

Current Affairs, History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseJuly 6, 2023ccm, chinese canadaComment

The Past and Present of Beijing's Siheyuan 北京四合院的前世今生

With more than 21.5 million people living in the sprawling metropolis and a history stretching back three millennia, Beijing is one of the most fascinating places in Asia. Experiencing the city’s growth first-hand has been exhilarating for Partner and Chief Architect Ziyu Zhuang of RSAA/Büro. Ziyu returned to the city of his childhood in 2010 after studying and working abroad in London and New York. Now twelve years later, Ziyu continues to appreciate how the city morphs and changes around him at a dizzying pace.

History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseNovember 16, 2022Beijing, Beijing Siheyuan, Archtecture, HeritageComment

Re-Imagining My Chinatown 滿地可唐人街：同源可同心？

When the movie Turning Red came out on Disney+ a few weeks ago, my family was eager to watch it together. First, for obvious family-movie reasons: (1) Pixar, (2) Pandas, and (3) Canada. But superseding those - there was another, deeper motivation. For the first time that I can remember, a major motion picture featured an Asian lead in a family movie. Representation has been a topic that has garnered a lot of chatter in recent years. Recent films like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi have done a lot to move the awareness of Asian talent — that has always existed — into the mainstream.

History & Architecture, Community & PeopleFête ChinoiseNovember 9, 2022Montreal Chinatown, ChinatownComment

Magic Carpet Ride 民國古毯價值重現

China has been making carpets for centuries. But those produced between the 1920s and 1940s in the Art Deco style have recently become among the most prized today. After nearly a century of benign neglect, these deco rugs — made of exceptional Chinese wool — appear freshly lustrous to a new generation of collectors who are discovering them for the first time.

Art and Fashion, History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseNovember 2, 2022Art Deco Rug, Chinese StyleComment

To Paradise Found: The Tale of Two Shangri-Las ‧ Part 2 — Toronto 消失‧尋找：地平線上香格里拉的設計密碼【貳】

Toronto, ON. The distinct design language transforms into a second oasis in the urban core of downtown Toronto. Modern Chinese art commands the chi of the University Avenue intersection with The Rising, a large and illustrious sculpture by artist Zhang Huan. At once a dragon and a tree, it extends all the way to the 3rd floor with birds flying into the ceiling of the lobby, extending the outdoor art piece indoors.

Community & People, History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseOctober 28, 2022Shangri-La Hotel, Luxury Hotel, Hotel, Shangri-LaComment

To Paradise Found: The Tale of Two Shangri-Las ‧ Part 1 — Vancouver 消失‧尋找：地平線上香格里拉的設計密碼【壹】

Vancouver, BC. In the drawer of the wooden nightstand, you will find a small blue coloured hardcover book titled The Lost Horizon by James Hilton. The story of the Shangri-La brand is inspired by the one in the book, a mythical utopian lamasery located high in the mountains of Tibet where people do not age and are detached from any woes or worries. In a dream world of beauty, rivers, streams, abundant fruits and thriving nature, there are breathtaking landscapes — beyond the book, this is certainly a fitting description for beautiful and lush Vancouver, where the Shangri-La hotel is nestled.

History & Architecture, Community & PeopleFête ChinoiseOctober 21, 2022Shangri-La, Shangri-La Vancouver, Luxury Hotel, HotelComment

Flower Numbers 花碼字: A Chinese Counting Legacy 中國數字之小歷史

Have you seen this unique numbering system at restaurants and markets in Hong Kong or other Chinese cities? These are Suzhou numerals, one of the ancient Chinese numbering styles. Today, only retro institutions and grocery shops in Hong Kong would still list their prices in Suzhou numbers — but now you’ll know how to read all the symbols after reading this article!

History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseOctober 7, 2022Flower Number, Suzhou Number, Chinese NumberComment

An Icon Revisited: The Blue Mansion 世界文化遺產:住進南洋首富的「藍屋」

If you had to name one of the most memorable scenes from the 2018 rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, the fervent mahjong game between Eleanor Young and Rachel Chu (played by Michelle Yeoh and Constance Wu respectively), would be at the top of many people's lists. What looks like a beautiful mahjong club set in a traditional Chinese courtyard was, in actuality, the majestic UNESCO heritage site-turned-boutique hotel Cheong Fatt Tze, located in Penang, Malaysia.

History & Architecture, Design DialogueFête ChinoiseSeptember 29, 2022blue mansion, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, malaysia, UNESCO, heritageComment

Hong Kong: City History Made Modern ‧ Part Two 「重」新遊歷 ‧ 東方之珠【貳】

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto), and in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, we invite you into six historic sites in the Central and Sheung Wan districts to see how they have been preserved and transformed into modern day use for the benefit of the local community and visitors.

History & Architecture, Design DialogueDeborah Lau-YuAugust 29, 2022hong kong, city, photo, histo, archiComment

Hong Kong: City History Made Modern ‧ Part One 「重」新遊歷 ‧ 東方之珠【壹】

The Hong Kong skyline is one of the most spectacular views in the world, with millions of glittering windows and iconic light beams that illuminate the harbour at night. The view represents the home of over 7 million people and an international business hub that has overcome consecutive challenges in recent years, and still stands as one of the most fascinating world class metropolises.

History & Architecture, Design DialogueFête ChinoiseAugust 23, 2022hong kong, city, photo, histo, archiComment

Manfred Yuen: Daring to Be Different 阮文韜: 敢為人先的建築「覺‧渡」

The theme of this edition of Fête Chinoise resonates strongly with Manfred. He believes that proper perspective is the key to doing things the way they are meant to be. “Because most of us are now accustomed to seeing and feeling designs the wrong way. When judging something, it is common to add external factors into the equation — be it finances, politics or ethnic background for example. If we only relied on our five senses instead, I think we would find everything more enjoyable.”

Long Reads, Personal Stories, History & ArchitectureFête ChinoiseApril 6, 2022Asian Representation, ArchitectureComment