Shanghai pedicure
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The Shanghai pedicure is deeply rooted in Chinese heritage and traditional Chinese medicine. Despite the name, this pedicure style was not originally practiced by Shanghainese people. During the city's peak as the "Paris of the East" in the 1920s and 1930s, many locals considered pedicures beneath them. Instead, skilled pedicurists, or sifus (meaning "masters" in Cantonese), came from rural provinces, relocating to Shanghai to cater to wealthy patrons. This migration led to the craft being widely known as the "Shanghai pedicure", though it was brought by artisans from outside the city.[1]
One of the most notable figures in preserving this craft was So Yan-Ko, who learned pedicuring in Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong, where he began his long-standing tenure at the Mandarin Oriental. This tradition continued with his sons, who became renowned Shanghai pedicurists themselves.[2]
