Shanghai's Old City Hall, a landmark building completed in 1922, has opened to the public following a decade of restoration and integrated into modern urban life.
Located in the core of the city's famous waterfront area known as the Bund, the building was first constructed in 1914 and served as the seat of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Since comprehensive restoration started on the building in 2015, the city has revitalized its appearance while preserving the architectural integrity and adding new spaces. It has been renamed "The Bund City Hall Plaza."
"We've added an auditorium inside and a public commercial space on the top floor. We also added two buildings in the courtyard. These spaces are designed to attract residents and tourists, providing open areas for everyone," said Zhu Yifeng, general manager of Shanghai Bund Old Building Investment and Development Company.
The revitalized city hall now boasts a mixed-use layout, with 70 percent dedicated to office space, 20 percent to cultural facilities, and 10 percent to commercial property, creating a 3,000-square-meter courtyard for the public, the only one of its kind on the Bund.
In addition to an atrium garden open to the public, other areas like the office of Shanghai Mayor Chen Yi, who worked in the building from 1949 to 1954, and adjacent building spaces have also been restored as key cultural relic protection areas available to visitors.
Every detail has been restored as much as possible from windows to bricks and even plaster moldings or wooden doors.
"The lights that you can see are all historical relics from a hundred years ago. Their copper finishes have been restored," said Sun Cheng, a project manager.
During the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the newly opened Old City Hall welcomed many visitors eager to experience Shanghai's history and culture.
"I recently learned that the Old City Hall was open to the public, so I made a reservation and came with some friends. Experiencing it now, I feel delighted," said a resident.
Shanghai's historic city hall opens to public after restoration
