Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
No visit is complete without a stroll along the Bund, with its striking panorama of European
buildings: about half of the 24 structures were built in the 1920s, and nine during the previous
two decades (for more information,
click here
)
. Most incorporate the neoclassical themes
prevalent during the period, including the regal 1923 Pudong Development Bank (built as the
Hongkong and Shanghai Bank) and the Waldorf Astoria (built as the Shanghai Club). The
most famous is the Art Deco Fairmont Peace Hotel (formerly the Cathay Hotel); the oldest is
the former British Consulate (1874).
Old Shanghai did business in the International Settlement, but preferred to live in the tree-
lined French Concession, where the Mediterranean, Tudor and Art Deco homes still stand.
Many are private residences, but some are open to the public, such as the magnificent
Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum (for more information,
click here
)
and the former home of
the wealthy industralist Rong family, now the Xuhui Children's Palace (for more information,
click here
)
.
MODERN SHANGHAI
Shanghai's most successful modern buildings include references to Chinese architecture or
push the high-design envelope. The Shanghai Grand Theatre (People's Square Route) does
both - it resembles a hyper-modern transparent temple to the arts, until you realise that its
roof pays homage to classical Chinese upturned eaves. The Shanghai Centre's red columns
supporting the entrance portico, meanwhile, are a clear reference to traditional motifs, while
the 632m Shanghai Tower, the world's second tallest skyscraper, is meant to resemble the
twisting tail of a mythical Chinese dragon.
Postmodern European architects have also proved popular: the seagull-inspired Pudong
International Airport and the ceramic-and-glass Oriental Arts Centre were both designed by
French architect Paul Andreu. An earlier and less exalted example is the space-age Pearl
Oriental Tower, constructed in 1994 and said to have been built to divert attention from the
Bund on the opposite riverbank - a symbol of the city's 'humiliating' colonial past. If so, the
tower has proved to be a resounding success.
FUTURE SHANGHAI
The pace of change has been tremendous over the past 15 years, and shows no signs of
abating. The largest redevelopment is the 74 sq km (29 sq miles) along the banks of the
Huangpu River on the Puxi side, much of which will be green space. The Shiliupu Wharf has
been transformed from dingy warehouses to a vibrant waterfront hub of shopping, dining and
entertainment. In Hongkou, an international cruise ship terminal has opened, with luxury ho-
tels, shopping and entertainment under way. On the Pudong side, Harbour City is gradually
