Expat clubs in the 1930s
(XING BAO)
08/30/2002
According to an old guidebook, "All About Shanghai" by H.J. Lethbridge, Westerners had no trouble amusing themselves in their spare time in the old days.They could find their way to many clubs and associations catering to many different nationalities that had been built and were thriving. In the Shanghai of the 1930s, there was no reason why a visitor would have any difficulty making a variety of friendly contacts. The Shanghai Club at No 3, The Bund, enjoyed international fame with its reputed "longest bar in the world". It was a British institution but other nationals could be admitted to membership. The Country Club, at 651 Bubbling Well Road, was purely social. The club was well laid out with extensive lawns, flower beds and fountains. The American Club, at 209 Fuzhou Road, was the centre of life in Shanghai for visitors from the United States and for expats. Like the Shanghai Club, it accepted other nationals for membership. A unique feature of the club was that women were not admitted except on the annual "Ladies' Night" and for "George Washington's Birthday Ball". The Columbia Country Club, at 301 Great Western Road, really was in the country in those days. It was an American club, purely social, and, as was the case in most Shanghai clubs, membership was open to other nationalities. The club was particularly attractive in the summer with spacious verandahs and a swimming pool. The Cercle Sportif Francais, the French Club at 290 Route Cardinal Mercier, had the most cosmopolitan membership of any club in Shanghai. Women members were limited to 40 and there was always a long waiting list. The club was both sporting and social. There was a roof garden for dancing in the summer and the club had a beautiful and spacious ballroom inside. During winter there were usually Sunday afternoon tea dances in the ballroom. The Deutscher Garden Klub, the German Garden Club at 454 Avenue Haig, was the sports and social gathering place for the German community in Shanghai with visitors enjoying certain privileges. The Masonic Club, formed in 1882, had its headquarters at 93 Canton Road. Masons in Shanghai were glad to propose visiting brethren for membership during their stay. The American University Club was, as indicated by the name, open to former or current students of American universities. It met from time to time for banquets, rallies, or dances.
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