Waxing lyrical about Shanghai's newest museum

Shanghaiist once visited Madame Tussauds in London after a big night of Theakston’s Old Peculier and, while sitting ashen-faced and stupefied in a chair, was mistaken for one of the exhibits by two elderly ladies. We’re not sure who they thought they were looking at, but it sure as hell wasn’t Brad Pitt.

We’re unsure, too, whether Brad Pitt will feature in the new Shanghai version of Madame Tussauds -- coming to the city next year -- but David Beckham will be there, and that’s probably all that a lot of people need to know. Another big attraction will be Audrey Hepburn who -- according to this new report -- is a “particular favourite of Chinese audiences.” Popular local figures will also appear in the exhibition. And we’re betting that Da Shan will pop up somewhere as well.

When Shanghaiist last reported the news of Tussauds' arrival, the location of the museum was unknown. We can now tell you that the house of wax will open on the 10th floor of the New World Department Store, 2 Nanjing Xi Lu, opposite People's Park. The US$23 million Shanghai installment of the popular attraction is expected to begin operating next summer. So we hope they get the air-conditioners working or Ms. Hepburn will be little more than a puddle on the floor.

By the way, Shanghaiist has just discovered that Tussauds began as a 19th-century collection of death masks of people who had been guillotined. We think there's a joke to be had at Da Shan's expense somewhere in there, but we'll leave it for now.

Image from holidaygallery.net