Pride of Place

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Shanghai. Once dubbed “the Paris of the East,” the city has evolved into a fusion of multiculturalism. Along the way, Shanghai has accumulated a repository of stories about the people and events that have shaped its history. Five areas of the city occupy pride of place in that journey: People’s Square, Jing’an Temple, Xujiahui, Lujiazui and Xintiandi. This series, a collaboration with Shanghai Local Chronicles Library, visits them all to follow in the footsteps of time.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Shanghai. Once dubbed “the Paris of the East,” the city has evolved into a fusion of multiculturalism. Along the way, Shanghai has accumulated a repository of stories about the people and events that have shaped its history. Five areas of the city occupy pride of place in that journey: People’s Square, Jing’an Temple, Xujiahui, Lujiazui and Xintiandi. This series, a collaboration with Shanghai Local Chronicles Library, visits them all to follow in the footsteps of time.
'Premier music venue of the Far East' once oozed glamor and notoriety - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

'Premier music venue of the Far East' once oozed glamor and notoriety

Nightlife in Shanghai pulsed in the Paramount in the 1930s and 40s, a magnet that attracted the city’s elite to its dance halls.
Family mansion turned children's palace records city's rich history - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Family mansion turned children's palace records city's rich history

Originally dubbed the Marble Hall, the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace evolved from a private home into a center for children's education and cultural enrichment.
A famous family, a famous garden now preserved for posterity - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

A famous family, a famous garden now preserved for posterity

The Soong family was renowned not only for their political ties but also for their contribution to the grandeur of the city.
Initially a tribute to Sino-Soviet ties, exhibition center retains prominence - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Initially a tribute to Sino-Soviet ties, exhibition center retains prominence

The Shanghai Exhibition Center, erected on the site of a historic garden, has weathered time and shifting political climates.
Fairy-tale villa of a Swedish shipping magnate retains iconic status - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Fairy-tale villa of a Swedish shipping magnate retains iconic status

The Moller family amassed fame and fortune in Shanghai. Their contribution to the city is an enduring architectural wonder now housing a luxury hotel.
Three splendid gardens that passed into history leave a cultural legacy - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Three splendid gardens that passed into history leave a cultural legacy

A trio of private gardens created by wealthy owners once provided the great and the lowly with green retreats that shaped the life of Shanghai.
Nanjing Road W. is famous, but how did this iconic street come to pass? - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Nanjing Road W. is famous, but how did this iconic street come to pass?

What began as Jing’an Temple Road in the colonial era of horse racing has evolved into a celebrated commercial and retail zone.
Jing'an Temple remains a treasure in the district that bears its name - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Jing'an Temple remains a treasure in the district that bears its name

Jing’an District’s strength of heart derives from a temple that has survived the vicissitudes of millennia.
Thanks to Tintin comics, a Chinese sculptor became a European sensation - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Thanks to Tintin comics, a Chinese sculptor became a European sensation

Zhang Chongren formed a lifelong friendship with Belgian cartoonist Hergé in a collaboration that deeply influenced the lives and works of both men.
Fascinating anecdotes of Chinese music are preserved in the 'little red building' - Art & Culture in China
Art & Culture

Fascinating anecdotes of Chinese music are preserved in the 'little red building'

The Pathé Records Company, which was established in Shanghai in 1921, played a pivotal role in the Chinese music industry.
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