People's Square (Shanghai)
Encyclopedia
Huangpu District, Shanghai
Huangpu District , is one of Shanghai's 18 districts and makes up the eastern part of Shanghai's traditional urban core. Today's Huangpu District is sometimes referred to as "new Huangpu" to distinguish it from the pre-merger Huangpu District which existed before 2000. In 2000, the pre-merger...
of Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. People's Square is the site of Shanghai's municipal government headquarter building, and is used as the standard reference point for measurement of distance in the Shanghai municipality.
History
Prior to 1949 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, what is now People's Square was a part of the horse racing courseRace track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
of Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. After gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
government, a part of the race course became the People's Square, which included a large avenue and spectator stands for use during parades.
In the 1990s, major changes were made to the square. The Shanghai Municipal Government was moved here from the former HSBC Building
HSBC Building, Shanghai
The HSBC Building is a six-floor neo-classical building in the Bund area of Shanghai, China. It was the headquarters of the Shanghai branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1923 to 1955. The building is situated at number 12, the Bund. It is also known as the Municipal...
on the Bund, also the Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China.-History:...
was moved here from its previous site in a former office building. More recent additions include the Shanghai Grand Theatre
Shanghai Grand Theatre
The Shanghai Grand Theatre is located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Huangpi Road South in northern part of the People's Square in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China....
and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is located on People's Square, Shanghai, China, adjacent to the municipal government building....
.
Other parts of the race course still remain. The clubhouse buildings became the Shanghai Art Museum
Shanghai Art Museum
The Shanghai Art Museum is an art museum in the city of Shanghai, China. It is located in the former clubhouse building of the Today, it is the home of the Shanghai biennial and stands adjacent to People's Square...
, while part of the race track became People's Park, a public park.
Landmarks
Well-known landmarks and tourist attractions surrounding the square include:- Park Hotel Shanghai (tallest building in Asia 1934 - 1952)
- Jinjiang tower (tallest building in city 1987 - 1990)
- Tomorrow SquareTomorrow SquareTomorrow Square is the fifth tallest building in Shanghai, China. It is located in the Puxi district, close to People's Square. It is about 285 m tall and has 55 floors....
- Municipal government headquartersPolitics of ShanghaiThe Politics of Shanghai is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in the mainland of the People's Republic of China . In the last few decades the city has produced many of the country's eventual senior leaders...
- Hong Kong New World TowerHong Kong New World TowerThe Hong Kong New World Tower is a 61-floor skyscraper, completed in 2002, located near Huaihai Park in the Luwan District of Shanghai. It is 278 meters high and was built by Bregman and Hamann Architects. It overlooks the People's Square across the Yan'an Elevated Road.-External links:* at...
- Radisson Shanghai
- Shanghai Grand TheatreShanghai Grand TheatreThe Shanghai Grand Theatre is located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Huangpi Road South in northern part of the People's Square in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China....
- Shanghai MuseumShanghai MuseumThe Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China.-History:...
- Shanghai Art MuseumShanghai Art MuseumThe Shanghai Art Museum is an art museum in the city of Shanghai, China. It is located in the former clubhouse building of the Today, it is the home of the Shanghai biennial and stands adjacent to People's Square...
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition HallShanghai Urban Planning Exhibition HallThe Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is located on People's Square, Shanghai, China, adjacent to the municipal government building....
- Shimao International PlazaShimao International PlazaShimao International Plaza is a tall skyscraper of 60 stories in Shanghai's Huangpu District. It was completed in 2005 under the design of Ingenhoven, Overdiek und Partner, East China Architecture and Design Institute....
- Nanjing Road
- Raffles City
Transportation
People's Square may be reached by taking Shanghai MetroShanghai Metro
The Shanghai Metro is the urban rapid transit system of China's largest city, Shanghai. The system incorporates both subway and light rail lines. It opened in 1995, making Shanghai the third city in Mainland China, after Beijing and Tianjin, to have a rapid transit system...
Line 1
Shanghai Metro Line 1
Line 1 is the main north-south line of the Shanghai Metro and was the first line to open, in 1995. It runs from Fujin Road in the north, via Shanghai Railway Station to Xinzhuang in the south...
, Line 2
Shanghai Metro Line 2
Line 2 forms the east-west axis of the Shanghai metro network, intersecting with the north-south axis Line 1 at People's Square. With a length of nearly 64 km, it is the longest line in the metro system. Line 2 runs from Xujing East in the west to Pudong International Airport in the east,...
or Line 8
Shanghai Metro Line 8
Line 8, also known as the Yangpu Line, is a metro line that runs north-south on the Shanghai Metro network, from Shiguang Road Station, in Yangpu District to Aerospace Museum Station, in Minhang. There are also future plans for the line to be extended to Luhui in Minhang District...
to People's Square station
People's Square (Shanghai Metro)
People's Square is the name of a large interchange station of the Shanghai Metro, located below People's Square in the city center of Shanghai...
.
External links
- Apr. 2007 Sept. 2007 Oct. 2007 Jan. 2008 YouTube videos