Five expats took part in an immersive jewelry-making event titled Unboxing Shanghai Style: A Custom Jewelry Experience at Lao Feng Xiang's flagship store in Yuyuan Garden Malls on July 23.

Hosted by International Services Shanghai, the experience offered participants a rare behind-the-scenes look at a craft that has defined the city's luxury heritage for nearly two centuries.

Founded in 1848, Lao Feng Xiang has long been synonymous with Shanghai Style refinement. Master craftsmen began the afternoon with an engaging introduction to the brand's history, cultural legacy, and signature design aesthetic, before guiding the group through a showroom filled with exquisite pieces. Then, each guest was invited to design, shape, and polish a unique silver pendant featuring white magnolia motifs — transforming a simple piece of metal into a personal keepsake.

Shen Guoxing, a master craftsman, said the pendant-making experience showcased Lao Feng Xiang's traditional craftsmanship in all its refined detail while encouraging greater participation from international guests. "This engagement represents a blend of Chinese and Western cultures, echoing the inclusive spirit of Shanghai."

For Pierre Espitallier, a French student at Tongji University's School of Economics and Management, that inclusive spirit is precisely what he loves most about the city. "What I love most about Shanghai is its rich cultural mix," he said.

Tobias Le Compte, a Belgian musician, saw the workshop as far more than a jewelry-making class.

Le Compte said the shop was steeped in history and reflected Shanghai's culture and heritage. He is known for promoting the Shanghai dialect and local culture through his online platforms.

For Joelle Chuckle Karnwhine, a Liberian doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and longtime Shanghai resident, the silver pendants — each bearing a personal mark — serve as more than souvenirs. They are tangible reminders of the city she has come to call home.

Yulia Kryazhevskikh from Russia, a PhD student in business administration at Tongji University, also said she continued to be surprised by new aspects of Chinese culture. "China never ceases to surprise me because there are always more things that I haven't heard about or aspects of culture that I was unaware of," she said.

The group then moved to nearby Huxinting Teahouse, a landmark in the Yuyuan Garden complex known for its classical Chinese garden setting and traditional tea culture. There, they watched a tea ceremony — showcasing refined brewing skills and elegant etiquette — while sampling several varieties of Chinese tea.

As they sipped tea and took in the tranquil atmosphere, the conversation turned to life in Shanghai and the role of International Services Shanghai as a hub for the city's international community.

Jessica Gleeson from the United States, CEO of Shanghai-based BrighterBeauty, praised the platform's practical impact. "I recommend the International Services Shanghai website all the time to people I know who are coming to China," she said.

Karnwhine highlighted the one-stop service stations at Pudong and Hongqiao airports as particularly helpful for newcomers. "International Services Shanghai makes it much simpler for foreigners to adapt to life in Shanghai," she said.

The participants also offered constructive suggestions for enhancing the platform and supporting Shanghai's efforts to become an even more open, inclusive, and innovative global metropolis.