Theme party raises awareness for protection of old buildings

By Annie Wei

Celebrity parties held in 20th century residences in the foreign concession are a regular occurrence in Shanghai. Tianjin followed suit for the first time last Wednesday.

Elegancy, a style magazine in Tianjin, teamed up with the city’ culture protection organization to host a 1920s theme party in Jingyuan. Invitees included Chinese celebrities and foreign executives based in Beijing and Shanghai.

Jingyuan, located in central Tianjin, was built in 1921 and is most famous for once being home to Puyi, China’s last emperor. The three-story panish style building  has three courtyards, beautiful balconies, fountains and a garden.

Wang Tingting, the event’s planner from Tianjin Historical Architecture Restoration and Development company, said Puyi enjoyed such partie and was often seen on the dance floor.

Laojieshi, a leading Tianjin Jazz band, has been performing since the 1980s.

Wang Yajun, Elegancy’s chief editor, said the event aimed to raise greater awareness about Jingyuan among locals and foreigners. The residence is open to visitors in the daytime but it draws few locals or business travelers despite its inexpensive entrance fee of 20 yuan.

Tianjin, a treaty port in the late 19th century, has numerous old, foreign-designed buildings, some of them under government protection. Wang said the organizers hope the gathering will help promote the repair, maintenance and preservation of these cultural heritage sites.

“As one of Elegancy’s second-year-anniversary events … we tried tfind an opportunity to promote local chic culture,” she said, adding that the party’s design was inspired by the popular 1920s nightclubs in Tianjin and Shanghai. Laojueshi Jazz, a local band popular since the 1980s,rovided the entertainment that evening.

Among its 100 participants were a group of elderly intellectuals who remember socializing at ballroom dances in the 1980s, including the dean of Tianjin No. 1 Hospital and professors from Nankai University.

Local celebrities dress up for the party. Photos by Zhou Pu