Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CONCESSION ERA
For 40 years after the Communists' victory in 1949, construction virtually halted in Shanghai.
Thus, when restrictions on development were lifted in the early 1990s, the city was a time
capsule of pre-1949 architecture. While it's sad to see so many historic buildings razed to
make way for highways and skyscrapers, it's important to remember that the city has always
been about being modern. In the 1920s and 30s, modernity meant Art Deco. Known for its
ability to weave outside ideas into local culture, Shanghai adapted the born-in-the-West style
to China, and it became a symbol of the city.
A detail of the Art Deco 1933 building
Dreamstime
Lane houses
