

Flowers of Shanghai
At the end of the 19th century, Shanghai is divided into several foreign concessions. In the British concession, a number of luxurious “flower houses” are reserved for the male elite of the city. Since Chinese dignitaries are not allowed to frequent brothels, these establishments are the only ones that these men can visit. They form a self-contained world, with its own rites, traditions and even its own language. The men don’t only visit the houses to frequent the courtesans but also to dine, smoke opium, play mahjong and relax. The women working there are known as the “flowers of Shanghai”.
TMDB
6.9/10
118 votes
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Mandarin
- shanghai, china
- brothel
- courtesan
- 19th century
Top billed cast









Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery












Release dates
IndiaIN
- PremiereKerala International Film Festival3 Apr 1999
United StatesUS
- TheatricalNR5 Oct 1998
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival20 May 1998
- Theatrical18 Nov 1998
Hong KongHK
- TheatricalIIA1 Oct 1998
South KoreaKR
- Theatrical154 Feb 2026
TaiwanTW
- PremiereTaipei Film Festival1 Oct 1998
Frequently asked questions
- When was Flowers of Shanghai released?
- Flowers of Shanghai was released on 1 October 1998.
- Where can I watch Flowers of Shanghai online?
- Flowers of Shanghai is available on Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube in US. Use the Watch now links in the Where to watch section for official pages.
- Is there a Hindi trailer for Flowers of Shanghai?
- No verified Hindi trailer for Flowers of Shanghai is available yet. Only the original-language trailer is listed.
- What is the rating of Flowers of Shanghai?
- Flowers of Shanghai holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 118 votes.
- Who directed Flowers of Shanghai?
- Flowers of Shanghai (1998) was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien.
- How long is Flowers of Shanghai?
- Flowers of Shanghai runs for 1h 53m.











