The Tintin Shop in Shanghai celebrates its 4th anniversary

Tintin entered the hearts of the Chinese with the release of a translation in 2001. A marvellous world opened up to the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, aged 7 to 77. They were immediately won over and saw him as a hero who fights for justice and peace in the world, but above all as someone who preaches friendship between all nations.

Unsurprisingly, it is The Blue Lotus that fascinates the Chinese the most. A preference that is not particularly surprising, as the story takes place in their homeland. Just remember... Tintin undertakes to dismantle the international opium trade that is rampant in this mythical country. In this adventure, which is the second instalment of Tintin’s adventure in the Orient, following on from Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin continues his investigation in Shanghai and discovers the mysteries of this Chinese city.

The creation of this fifth opus was preceded by a long period of documentation and numerous exchanges between Hergé and a young Chinese man who had come to study in Brussels: Chang Chong-chen. Thanks to him, Hergé took care of the authenticity of the details of his story, and immersed himself in Chinese art - from the use of the brush to portray shadows, via calligraphy. The long exchanges between the two men result in a dazzling adventure and a solid friendship. Or shall we say "two solid friendships", since Hergé did Chang the ultimate honour of inspiring him to embody Tintin's precious sidekick of the same name in this adventure.

Thus, the shadows of Tintin and Chang still roam the streets of the Pearl of the Orient. Last July, the city hosted the largest exhibition on Hergé ever held in the world. The success of this retrospective is proof of this attachment. The opening of the Shop in Shanghai dedicated to the adventures of the young reporter has perpetuated these intercultural relations. it has now been four years since the Tintin Shop in Shanghai opened its doors to the delight of Chinese Tintinophiles. Opened in February 2019, the Tintin Shop in Shanghai celebrates its fourth anniversary by honouring the 50,000 fans from all over the country and the world who have already walked through the door of the shop dedicated to the fabulous Adventures of Tintin.