【Saturday Cinema】The Legend of Shanghai’s Old Jazz at the Peace Hotel
Last updated 2026-09-25 — The Shanghai Peace Hotel Old Jazz Band features band members ranging in age from 76 to 86. They have been stationed at the Peace Hotel for over half a century, living through the Japanese invasion, the Cultural Revolution, and regime changes, witnessing the glamour of old Shanghai—but the one thing that has never changed is their...
Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Team, compiled and reported
The Shanghai Peace Hotel Old Jazz Band includes members aged between 76 and 86. They have been based at the Peace Hotel for more than 50 years, enduring the Japanese invasion, the Cultural Revolution, and shifts in political power, seeing all the splendor of old Shanghai. The one constant has been their dedication and passion for jazz. In 2011, the band was invited to the Netherlands to participate in the biggest annual event in jazz: the North Sea Jazz Festival. Several elderly gentlemen whose combined ages exceeded 300 embarked on a journey “to bring glory abroad.” German director Uli Gaulke followed in their footsteps, documenting this remarkable journey. Watching these spirited elders deftly play with the notes and find ease and freedom in jazz is truly captivating.
Still from the movie Shanghai Old Jazz. (Image provided by Tianmaxingkong)
The Origins of the Shanghai Peace Hotel Old Jazz Band
The Peace Hotel is one of China’s most renowned legendary hotels, located on the Bund in Shanghai. With its blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, it stands majestically along the Huangpu River. The hotel’s design fuses classical and modern elements, as well as Chinese and Western influences. It has hosted top global politicians, wealthy entrepreneurs, celebrities, including comedy legend Charlie Chaplin and Nobel Prize-winning author George Bernard Shaw. From 1991 to 1994, it was ranked the “World’s Most Famous Hotel” for four consecutive years, and to this day, it remains the only hotel in China to have received this honor.
Shanghai’s old jazz musicians take a group photo in front of the Peace Hotel. (Image provided by Tianmaxingkong)
The jazz bar inside the Peace Hotel has been an important hub for jazz in Shanghai since the 1930s. Its nightly jazz performances are often sold out, and it was once named the world’s best bar by Newsweek magazine. In 1980, the hotel established the Shanghai Peace Hotel Old Jazz Band, composed of seven senior jazz musicians all over the age of 75. They perform classic jazz pieces every night, and the venue has also become one of Shanghai’s must-visit attractions.
Original poster for Shanghai Old Jazz. (Image provided by Tianmaxingkong)
Shanghai Old Jazz
As Time Goes By in Shanghai
Release Date: 2014-07-18
Genre: Documentary, Music/Musical
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Director: Uli Gaulke
Cast: Sun Jibin, Bao Zhengzhen, Zhang Jingyu, Li Mingkang
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