10. October 2022

My Dear, or Měilì (美丽牌) meaning “beautiful” in Chinese, was the most popular Chinese cigarette brand out of Shanghai during Republican China. Since its inception it was famous for the attractive, confident and modern “new women” featured in its advertisements, ubiquitous across billboards, magazines and newspapers. Its Chinese slogan 有美皆备，无丽不臻 literally means “everyone wants the beauty because without beauty there is no completeness” but in more creative...

04. April 2021

Ruihua Villa (瑞华公馆) now housing a Chinese restaurant was built in 1930 by the founder of Hwa Ching Tobacco Chen Chuxiang, manufacturer of the famous Shanghai My Dear cigarettes brand (美丽牌)