Shanghai Dolls is a popular web site for expat women in Shanghai to get together for dinner, art classes, et cetera, and also enjoy discounts at various stores throughout the city. In this issue of MOZIMOGO, we talk to Shanghai Dolls’ founder Julia Taylor about how the project started and where it’s headed.
Julia: The weather is a little crazy at the moment. It is so hot! I don’t even want to work in this weather, but saying that I do love summer far more than the dreaded Shanghai winters!
What do you do for a living?
I’m an Interior Designer. Basically, we are a company that does the architectural and interior design for 5-star hotels around China, like Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental. That takes up most of my time.
And what about your social life?
Well, the Shanghai Dolls takes up the rest of my time!
Tell us a bit about the Shanghai Dolls?
The Shanghai Dolls is a social network for expat women in Shanghai where they can meet new friends and get great discounts at different venues around the city.
What gave you the desire to be the “Original Doll”?
Well, I work for a Chinese company with no other foreigners, which makes it a bit tricky to make friends who are into the same kind of things as me! When I first came to Shanghai, I found it really difficult to make friends. I mean, I met people, but they seemed to be really cliquey and it was hard to break into their circles. Not sure why this kind of thing happens, but I figured the best way around it for me and other expats ladies in Shanghai was to start up a new group. The Shanghai Dolls was born.
The most fulfilling thing I get out of this is seeing people come together and be happy together.
How did you go about starting it?
I began by contacting women and talking to them on another expat website, and then I started a group on Facebook. After the great firewall of China decided Facebook should be blocked I used an emailing list for about 6 months. I had my own little version of spam and would just email the girls on my list and we went out for dinners, dancing, and fun.
Then, at a Dolls’ brunch, a member offered to start up a website. Now, we have over 650 members, and the events have gone from once a month to four times a week.
Wow! You must feel proud of what you have accomplished!
Yes, well the most fulfilling thing I get out of this is seeing people come together and be happy together. I love seeing new people meet each other and become friends, and also meeting people from all over the world! I have made some amazing friends from doing this, which was my original goal for the Dolls.
You mentioned that you have four events per week now. What kinds of events do you arrange?
I think our most regular event is the Dolls’ Hump Day, which is a get-together at different venues every Wednesday night to have drinks and a bite to eat. We also have many brunches, dinners, yoga classes, kick boxing lessons, art classes and dancing lessons. There is also a monthly book club, photography club and soon to be a wine club. » continue
No way! I used to try to, but I had no time for anything else, so I realized I needed to stop going to everything. Actually, my baby is the Dolls’ Fitness Challenge and Dolls Fitness Weekends. That’s what I spend a lot of my time organizing and taking part in.
What exactly is the Dolls’ Fitness Challenge?
I liken it to a boot camp, but replace the screaming with laughing! We have two teams training for six weeks, and then there is a competition at the end. It involves getting up at 6:00 am two days a week, and a weekend at Moganshan towards the end. Actually, our first trip to Moganshan just happened and the competition is this weekend in Century Park.
Good luck to you and your team! What about future events?
I am hoping to introduce some more educational and developmental activities, such as workshops. We have just started doing different types of beauty workshops for the members like makeup, fashion, style and hopefully will soon introduce some business talks.
A question on everybody’s mind these days: What do you think of the Expo?
I am not a big fan of crowds, so I found it way too busy even though I went on a weekday. I actually went specifically to look at the architecture, so I didn’t go inside any of the pavilions.
Way back, I went to the Queensland Expo in 1988, and we thought it was crowded then, but that was nothing compared to the Shanghai Expo now!
Which was your favorite building?
I hate to be biased, but it was Australia. I loved the colour and the simple, not-over-the-top design of it.
What are your favorite restaurants?
I would have to say Lost Heaven. It’s Yunnan cuisine, which tastes to me more like Thai food, and I absolutely love Thai food. Being a vegetarian in Shanghai can be very difficult at times, but Lost Heaven has a lot of choices on the menu that I can eat. Oh and they have a great terrace to sip cocktails on!
In terms of design, I love Issimo. The décor of both the restaurant and hotel are very unique and are not trying to copy any other places around the city.
Favorite holiday destination?
Anywhere that doesn’t have people and has sun! One of my favourite trips was to Africa. I spent two and a half months there and loved every minute of it.
I also had an incredible experience in Thailand at a health resort called “The Sanctuary.” The name says it all! It is like a little slice of heaven, only two beaches away from the Full Moon Party, but a totally different world from the drinking and craziness that go on there. You go there to fast, do liver cleanses, detox, yoga, and to just relax. It’s a very special place, I recommend anyone to go there.
Thanks Julia, I’m sure we will all be interested in hearing about the final events of your Fitness Challenge. Good luck!
Thanks! ✖
(Photography by Oscar Malpica.)
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