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Cercle Sportif Français

Route Cardinal Mercier
Shanghai, China
Type: Other
Status: Closed
Open: 1926, Close: 1955

The Cercle Sportif Francais on Route Cardinal Mercier (it later became the Jinjiang Club and now part of the Okura Garden hotel) was the center of life for the cream of the French Concession. It opened in 1926 . Outside architecture is of neoclassique style, however the inside was heavily influenced by Art Deco. A masterpiece of architecture ,French Cercle Sportif was a symbol of cosmopolitan Shanghai and also an important cultural landmark. It focus was thoroughly social. Cercle Sportif Français (the French Club) was once one of Shanghai's most exclusive clubs- it had living rooms, restaurant, gambling rooms, ballroom, etc , all the necessary tfor the activity of such clubs .The card room room was located on the upper floor of the building .The word sportif was merely a tittle – it had a swimming pool, which was supposed to be the best in Shanghai, 54m long,twelve tennis courts and two bowling alleys. The club had one of the most beautiful in the city dance halls.The club was much more equalitarian than others from british and americans clubs - was the first to admit women and Chinese as members. The club wound up its membership in 1955 when it was clear that there was no place for such an institution in Mao Zedong's China.