San Francisco

San Francisco is the town in which Violet’s mother grew up. It is in her family home in this town that Lucia meets Lu Shing and seduces him. Flora stays with Lucia in the house in San Francisco for a week before they go to China. During this time, Lucia says she might sell the house but Flora asks her not to, saying she might come to live there.

Shanghai

Shanghai is the Chinese city where Lulu Mimi’s courtesan house is located. It is in this place that most of the action of the novel takes place. Lucia travels to Shanghai with Lu Shing where Violet is born. Lucia returns to Shanghai to visit her daughter, whom she’d thought was dead, then again to take Flora back to Violet.

Hidden Jade Path

Hidden Jade Path is the name of Lulu Mimi’s courtesan house...