A Hunt For Shanghai’s Shadow

INFO
DESIGNER: ANOTHER TALES STUDIO
TEL: +603 2728 4350

Get hungry and intrigue for a mystery, a dated tale in the 20s that is still yet to be unravel with Lady Madam Wong.

Oriental-inspired, Madam Wong has garnered its popularity serving the night-owls. From the name, the bar is probably owned by an iron lady or a disposition that parades the classical style of Shanghai in the 1920s. This, however has a mysterious ambiance to it. Enough to entice one to put an archaeologist’s hat to sought and discover secrets of the lost tomb in ancient China.

The adventure begins from the entrance of the best dance club in town, Sensation of Sound. One needs to walk through an alley of glass doors which leads towards a back lane. Then, find the second door and enter into a storeroom filled with lockers painted in black and red. Identify the secret door and head up the stairs. As if you have entered the tomb, the walls are textured in concrete.

Red-lighted and dimmed, the hidden gem gets even warmer. The red carpet marks the final step. Do not expect beaming beings to usher you in, plus you got to be brave to face four stern-looking terracotta Chinese guards, protecting the very entrance and territory of Madam Wong. This is where most would need to decide and enter the chamber. Curiosity does killed the cat. Well, it is now or never.

Once entered, the center stage is not easily missed even glancing it from the top level. Written on the wall, a Chinese calligraphically character reads out loud “huáng”, which literally means queen. The backdrop is stunningly dressed in surely red hemisphere booth, brightened with light bulbs to capture all gazes. The stage does represent Shanghaies women singing in the 20s, yet opened for live performances in this era.

Walls are bricked, the sides of the wall are armed in metal with red-lit Chinese motifs and iron cast door knobs usually found in ancient buildings. The railings made for the two-levelled hall is interestingly inventive. Since prosperity is essential to their culture, the abacus on the railings says it all. Moreover, furnishings are handpicked dark leather couches, matched with certain old-fashioned timber tables and chairs or odd-looking antiques.

The final touches and details of the Chinese fans, table lamps and upholstered cushions simply outrighted the oriental fad. Inspired by curiosity, Kuala Lumpur’s young and dynamic interior and branding studio, Another Tales Studio flawlessly flaunted this hidden speakeasy bar. A good design story does take much eagerness to be discovered in one of the lanes of Ipoh. Another tale for another day then.