Shanghai, in the flourishing years of the 80s and 90s, donned a blend of modernity, fusing Western liberalism with the ancient Chinese traditions. It became a major economic hub of China, featuring towering skyscrapers alongside historical landmarks.
Despite its external transformation, Shanghai of that era still retained ancient customs steeped in superstition and orthodoxy. Arranged marriages orchestrated by parents and confrontations over betrothal gifts persisted. Romantic tragedies remained a source of inspiration for romance novelists like Quynh Dao, and novels such as “Dòng Sông Lí Biệt” (The Separate River) or “Như Gió Như Sương Lại Như Mưa” (Like Wind, Like Mist, Like Rain) undoubtedly became enduring memories for the generation of the early 90s.
