Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
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Located in Shanghai’s People’s Square, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is a six storey building which displays Shanghai’s past, present, and future. It is the perfect way to begin all Shanghai Tours. The hall is a great way to learn about Shanghai’s development from fishing village, to cosmopolitan metropolis. It will also show you the layout and heartbeat of the city, which is a great foundation for really enjoying Shanghai.
The Building:
The building was designed by Ling Benli, who also designed Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower. It has a very modernistic design which compliments the design of the neighboring Grand Theatre. The building is clad in white paneling and has four square membrane structures on the roof, which is an artistic representation of a white magnolia flower, which is Shanghai’s city flower. The building’s design won numerous prestigious architectural awards.
Exhibits:
First Floor
The ground floor is mostly open and has a large revolving golden sculpture of Shanghai’s major architectural works of art. It is a great meeting area and has a little shop for selling Shanghai items.
Second Floor
The exhibition hall’s second floor shows Shanghai’s past. It shows what Shanghai used to look like through models, and photographs. It shows how it grew from a small fishing village to the metropolis it is today.
Third Floor
The third floor shows present Shanghai. It is this floor that the hall is really famous for. It has a gigantic scale model of Shanghai which is constantly being updated. The small scale buildings are lit internally and faithful to the originals. Periodically, the lights dim, and the buildings and street lights light up to show Shanghai at night. Also on the third floor is a circular room, which has a video playing all around, giving visitors a bird’s eye view of Shanghai.
Forth Floor
Showcasing the plans for Shanghai’s future, the fourth floor shows what new plans Shanghai has either under construction, or in the planning stages. Everything is done via scale models. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is a fantastic way to get a feel for Shanghai’s history, and its modern incarnation. It is a terrific first stop and one that should not be missed.
