Architecture in Shanghai

Shanghai is and has always been an international city. Since the concession era, when foreign nations held small territories withing Shanghai, the city's architecture blossomed into a diverse and beautiful kaleidoscope of art and function. From the beautiful French row houses in the French Concession, to the British-style structures along the Bund, the city's diversity has no end in the architectural world.

The Bund and the Pudong Bund are great places to start on an architecture tour of Shanghai. You'll see some of the city's most beautiful western-style buildings along the Bund, while the city's modern sky scrapers skirt along the Pudong Bund across the river. The Bund is, in its own right, an architectural highlight in Shanghai not to be missed.

In Pudong, Jin Mao Tower holds epic fame. It was the pride of the city when completed, and still garnishes city-wide respect. The massive tower has immense aesthetic value, and can be enjoyed from the Cloud 9 Bar near the summit or at the base, where its giant form remains awe-inspiring.

In Renmin Park, the Shanghai Museum is an interesting design and is recognizable from afar for its unique layout and architecture. Nearby Nanjing Road holds interesting structures including mega malls of the most modern decor nestled near old British style former row houses.

For a glimpse at the traditional Shanghai hutong homes, head to TaiKang Road, where you'll be lost in a maze of alleyways each more impressive than the last. These hutong homes were once the city's main housing option, and the community feeling in them is strong. XinTianDi, a modern take on the hutong-style design, offers a glimpse into wealth and fortune with Chinese and Western elements merged into one final design.

Religious structures in Shanghai also offer beautiful architectural sights, including the Western St. Ignatius Church and the Jade Buddha Temple.

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