Once Upon a Time in Shanghai takes place in the turbulent 1920's
and 1930's of Shanghai and is a remake of the 1983 version starring Chow Yun Fat. It
is told in flashback form. Nnadia stars as the female lead,
Fung Ching
Ching, the only daughter of a very wealthy and corrupt businessman in Shanghai. He is a
leader of gangster type organization who owns many businesses throughout Shanghai. Sunny Chan stars as the male lead, Hui Man Keung, an ex-patriot who
works unwillingly for Mr.Fung (Nnadia's father), and Lam Ka Tung
is his sometimes faithful companion. Adam Cheng plays a
business man in search of his lost love played by Maggie Cheung Ho
Yee. Dodo Cheng plays an
independent woman who is in love with a deceitful fellow, Gallen Lo. Along with many other
stars such as Vivian Leung Siu Bing the cast is a strong one.
The following is only the summary of the love story of Nnadia's and Sunny Chan's
characters. The main story revolves around the star-crossed lovers, Ching Ching and Man
Keung. Their love is almost fated to end in disaster. The series begins with Man Keung
coming to Shanghai confused and penniless and finding companionship with Adam Cheng's
character and Lam Ka Tung's character, Ding Lic. Soon he starts up business and becomes
well established in Shanghai running a small theater. Ching Ching (Nnadia) returns from
school and meets up with Man Keung (Sunny) at the train station where she is held hostage
by a misguided man. Man Keung rescues her and shows compassion towards her captor while
winning her heart at the same time. However, unknown to her, her father objects to Man
Keung and tells him to stay away from his daughter. Ching Ching sets out to win Man
Keung's heart. She is repeatedly put on an emotional rollercoaster. At times Man Keung is
kind and nice to her and other times he lets her down coldly. Vivian Leung's character
enters as a poor girl who falls for Man Keung's kindness. Ching Ching soon starts to
believe that Man Keung may have feelings for Vivian's character because Vivian is staying
with Man Keung. This is in fact not at all true. Vivian has no where to stay because her
child groom has died and her in-laws have thrown her out. Because of Man Keung's warmth
and compassion he takes her in without any love in mind. Vivian eventually leaves Shanghai
heartbroken when she learns of Man Keung's love for Ching Ching. Unfortunately, he
believes that he is not good enough for Ching Ching, so he attempts to distance himself
from Ching Ching. Ding Lic(Lam Ka Tung) realizes Man Keung's pain and tries desperately to
join the two together. In the meantime his heart is also falling for Ching Ching's
sweetness and charm.
Many episodes of misunderstanding occur resulting in Ching Ching wanting to go away to
France to study. However, because of her great love for Man Keung she stays and they come
together at the orphanage where he taught her how to fly a kite. So finally they are
together, and everyday their love grows stronger yet at the same time due to Mr. Fung's
corrupt actions they grow farther apart. After many incidents of almost breaking up Man
Keung finally decides he wants to marry Ching Ching. He proposes at the theater house
where she performs at. Mr. Fung is involved in arms smuggling with the Japanese and the
ex-patriot in Man Keung cannot handle it any longer. Instead of helping as he was ordered
to do he kills the Japanese involved and collapses the deal. He is forced into hiding.
Ching
Ching is scared and confused, not knowing what has happened to Man Keung. He attempts to
meet Ching Ching one last time and explain, however due to Mr. Fung's men he is unable to
reach her. So, alone and heartbroken he takes
refuge in Hong Kong. While in Shanghai Ching Ching desperately searches for Man Keung. In
the time he is away Ching Ching and Ding Lic become closer companions and Ding Lic falls
completely in love with Ching Ching. Man
Keung meets up with Vivian again. This time instead of thrusting her aside he stays with
her and helps out her family. He begins to see her unending devotion to him, and because
he believes he will never again meet Ching Ching he marries Vivian.
Ching Ching during this time is unaware of Man Keung's marriage. She knows that Man Keung
is alive and goes to Hong Kong in search of him. She eventually finds him and meets up
with a pregnant Vivian. Man Keung is cold towards her and showing almost no emotion.
However, behind his fake exterior he is hiding a grieving heart. She returns to Shanghai
devastated and distraught. And as time goes on she finds comfort in her friendship with
Ding Lic. Man Keung's family is destroyed in this short period of time. A young man who is
upset due to the loss of his Japanese girlfriend that Man Keung killed in the smugggling
incident kills Man Keung's entire family in Hong Kong just before Mr. Fung's men are able
to. Now with revenge in his heart Man Keung returns to Shanghai. He is out to topple Mr.
Fung's fortune and kill him. Ching Ching learns of Man Keung's return, and eventually the
loss of his family. A little more time passes and Man Keung realizes his feelings for
Ching Ching are still very strong, however he hides his
feelings and pushes her away. Confused and sad Ching Ching accepts Ding Lic's marriage
proposal. Man Keung shows no sign of objection to this until the day of the wedding when
he runs into the church in the middle of the ceremony attempting to stop it. He is
immediately rejected by a hurt Ching Ching, and she marries Ding Lic.
Ching Ching and Ding Lic's marriage begins as a sweet affair, however Ding Lic is a
jealous man. He knows that Ching Ching still loves Man Keung and he is scared of losing
her. Ching Ching attempts to be a faithful wife, both physically and mentally, no longer
thinking of Man Keung. However, due to Ding Lic's misunderstandings and misguidedness he
pushes his wife towards Man Keung with his jealously. Soon she finds out about her
husband's involvement in corrupt dealings with her father and she leaves him. At this time
Man Keung tries to win her heart back. With a little difficulty they eventually come
together again, and Ding Lic admits defeat to his friend. Their love, once again, is not
easy. Man Keung still wants to kill Ching Ching's father and Ching Ching cannot accept
this. Soon he promises to end his attempt at revenge and go away with her to France. He
goes back on his word and kills her father, and their love is doomed. A sad and hateful
Ching Ching leaves to France alone. And Man Keung becomes the big
boss of Shanghai with the death of Mr. Fung. He finds life without her too hard to deal
with and decides to go to France in search of her. However, his plans are halted when a
French man puts a hit on him and he is shot outside of his own bar/restaurant. The end is
not clear as to whether or not Man Keung actually dies.
Summary by Kim Anh
More Pictures:
Man Keung & Ching Ching 1
Man Keung & Ching Ching 2
DingLic & Ching Ching
Group
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The Songbird
Beside the
Seaside,
Beside the Sea
Knot to Treasure
Instinct
Cold Blood Warm
Heart
Star.Moon.Sun
Happy Ever After
TVB's / Other
Previews in RealMedia
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The Songbird
Beside the Seaside,
Beside the Sea
The Zu Mountain Saga II
The Mark of Triumph '92
The Spirit of Love
Knot to Treasure