Hit TV drama 'Blossoms' drives a new craze in Shanghai

On January 9, popular TV series "Blossoms," the first of its kind from Hong Kong's auteur Wong Kar-wai, reached its grand finale. Its story is set against the backdrop of Shanghai in the 1990s, a period filled with opportunity and hope.

The series revolves around a young man named A Bao who rode the wave of economic reforms, where his own efforts to become a rising star in the business world became known to everyone along the city's Huanghe Road. And a trend of visiting the film locations featured in the hit TV series is also growing.

The Peace Hotel, a well-established five-star hotel in Shanghai, has seen a resurgence in popularity as a result of the show. A Bao's long-term private room at the Peace Hotel, priced at $80 per night in the series, has become a hot-ticket item. The 178-square-meter suite with a view of the Huangpu River was rebranded from the "British Suite" to the "British Blossoms Suite" on January 4, sparking a surge in demand.

The British Blossoms Suite, currently priced at a staggering 22,800 yuan (about $3,200) per night, is fully booked for the upcoming Spring Festival and Valentine's Day, according to Trip.com, one of China's leading online travel agencies. Every Saturday in January, the suite, which costs 18,800 yuan (about $2,600) per night, is also fully booked. Such fervent consumer interest is uncommon even in Shanghai's highly competitive hotel scene.

As the series grew in popularity, many viewers not only became hooked on the drama, but also took time out to visit the popular restaurants featured in the show.

Tai Sheng Yuan, a restaurant located on Huanghe Road and the inspiration for the fictitious Zhi Zhen Yuan restaurant depicted in the TV series, has emerged as a new hotspot for residents and tourists alike. Data from Meituan Dianping, a leading lifestyle services platform offering consumer reviews, revealed that the volume of online searches for "Tai Sheng Yuan" over the past week increased by a factor of more than 13, with related reviews increasing nearly tenfold.

As the show aired, certain place names featured in the storyline also captured people's imagination. "Blossoms" city-walk routes, which allow visitors to check in at locations such as Huanghe Road and the Peace Hotel, pass through places that evoke memories of old Shanghai. This unique blend of on-screen allure and real-world exploration has created a vibrant cultural phenomenon, leaving an indelible mark on the city's landscape.