Eight historical buildings in Shanghai have been included in the ninth edition of the 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage List, as announced by the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and the Architectural Society of China in late April.

Let's take a closer look at the eight historical buildings from Shanghai.

 

1. Former Shanghai Municipal Government Building

The former Shanghai municipal government building, now an office building for the Shanghai University of Sport, is reminiscent of an imperial palace.

Designed by Dong Dayou in 1931, it was the administrative centerpiece of the "Greater Shanghai Plan" during the Republican era.

On Sept 25, 1989, it was listed among the fifth group of cultural relics sites protected by Shanghai.

Address: No 650 Qingyuan Ring Road, Yangpu district

 

2. Historical buildings of Hujiang University

Formerly known as Shanghai Baptist College and Theological Seminary, Hujiang University was Shanghai's first missionary university with a Chinese president.

Established in 1906, it boasts over 30 historical buildings, making it the best-preserved collection of historical campus buildings in Shanghai.

These buildings are now part of the beautiful landscape of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

Address: No 516 Jungong Road, Yangpu district

 

3. Green House

Designed by architect Laszlo Hudec in the 1930s, the Green House was the former mansion of D.V. Woo (Wu Tongwen), a paint and dye tycoon. The modern-style villa was named after Woo's favorite color.

With its streamlined lines and a strong sense of modernity, it is a signature piece in Hudec's design career.

In 1994, it was recognized as an outstanding example of modern architectural preservation in Shanghai.

Address: No 333 Tongren Road, Jing'an district

 

4. Office building of Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles

Built in the mid-1920s, this building has been the office of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles since 1950.

A masterpiece of Western-style garden architecture in modern Shanghai, the building showcases the high craftsmanship and artistic value of its time.

In 1994, it was listed among the second group of outstanding historical buildings in Shanghai.

Address: No 238 West Yan'an Road, Jing'an district

 

5. Sun Ke Villa

Sun Ke Villa was designed by renowned architect Laszlo Hudec as his ideal home in Shanghai and later became the residence of Sun Ke, the son of Sun Yat-sen.

Built in 1931, it is one of Hudec's most famous works in Shanghai. This Spanish-style architecture boasts superior materials and advanced facilities.

In 1989, it was designated as a cultural relic protection site by Shanghai.

Starting in 1951, it was the office of the Shanghai Institute of Biological Products. In 2016, China Vanke began a renovation projection on the villa, which was opened to the public in 2020.

Address: No 60 Panyu Road, Changning district

 

6. Union Friendship Tower, Shanghai

[Photo by Lu Jie]

Construction of the Union Friendship Tower began in March 1984 and was completed in May 1985, taking only 14 months to finish — 22 months ahead of schedule.

Upon its completion in 1985, it became the first building in Shanghai to exceed 100 meters in height, marking the beginning of the city's era of high-rise buildings.

Address: No 100 East Yan'an Road, Huangpu district

 

7. Zou Taofen Memorial

The Zou Taofen Memorial, located at the former residence of Zou Taofen in Shanghai, is a museum dedicated to the memory of Zou Taofen (1895-1944), a Chinese correspondent, political commentator, and publisher.

Built in 1923, it consists of two parts: Zou's former residence from 1930 to 1936 and an auxiliary exhibition area.

In May 1959, the brick and wood architecture was designated as a cultural relic protection site by Shanghai.

Address: No 53-54, Lane 205, South Chongqing Road, Huangpu district

 

8. Shanghai Symphony Museum

First built in the 1920s, the garden villa originally served as the home of Zhou Zongliang, a prominent paint and dye tycoon. In 2017 it was opened to the public as the Shanghai Symphony Museum, China's first museum dedicated to symphony music.

The museum spans an area of 4,773 square meters and features five European-style houses with a total floor area of 1,048 square meters.

At the center of its expansive 1,000-square-meter garden lies a large lawn, surrounded by century-old camphor trees. The garden is landscaped with trimmed flowers and other plants, adding to its serene and picturesque ambiance.

Address: No 3 Baoqing Road, Xuhui district

 

Sources: WeChat account 'Smart Observation' (慧智观察) (focused on China's architectural heritage), Shanghai Yangpu District Library, Shanghai Jing'an District, Arcplus Historic Building Preservation Design Institute, Culture and Tourism Center of Changning District, Shanghai Historic Building Protection Affairs Center, Zou Taofen Memorial