'Shanghai Nights’ Along Huangpu River

December 3, 2011. The Bund, Shanghai. -- The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) today hosted one of the highlights of the year: the glamorous ‘Shanghai Nights’ gala event aboard a luxurious cruise boat on the Huangpu River. Dressed in traditional Chinese formal dinner attire, the full-time MBA 2011 and 2010 exchange students and faculty enjoyed an unforgettable evening of dance, music and magic beneath the backdrop of central Shanghai’s most iconic scenery.


The guests, having spared no effort on their stunning outfits, arrived to a drinks reception and buffet dinner, with background entertainment in the form of a recent local ‘Dating Show’ broadcast featuring CEIBS students provided background entertainment. Before long, the ship had set sail, cruising beside the Bund and Shanghai’s spectacular night-time vista before moving further up the busy shipping channel.


Later, guests moved onto the outside deck where they were treated to an energetic live rock performance by the MBA 2011 band, with lead singer Ryota Yamada getting the crowd singing along to Bon Jovi, despite the brisk winter air. Next, Elizabeth Zhang, dressed to impress, serenaded the party with popular classics before the men’s hip-hop dance trio wowed the excited audience with a brilliant display to the sound of Michael Jackson and ‘Party Rock’.


Not to be out done, the girls’ dance team led by Liz Lee defied the cold weather to deliver a dynamic and well-polished routine, followed by an equally seductive and passionate salsa display by Ching Ngaodulyawat from Thailand, with Sam Wu as her partner. Finally, after melodious Chinese and Spanish traditional music demonstrations, it was time for the much-anticipated show of mystery and trickery by CEIBS’ accomplished and notoriously flamboyant illusionist Phil Arnheim. To gasps of delight and laughter, Arnheim (widely rumoured to be capable of using psychic powers to read lecturers’ minds) produced a captivating show of magic, worthy of his global reputation.


Having relished a masterful evening of home-grown entertainment, the crowd savoured the rest of the night at the onboard disco, where students and attending faculty members showed their dexterity and spirit on the dance floor. All too soon, the boat was moored back at the Bund and partygoers slowly moved on to enjoy Shanghai’s vibrant night life on dry land. The event, organised by Patricia Sun and the student committee, was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion that will bring back many happy memories for all involved.