Exhibition reveals glorious history of Nanjing Road E.

Two visitors watch and discuss about a historical photo about the Nanjing Road E. community at "The Heart of the City" exhibition at the city's urban planning exhibition hall on Saturday.

A photo exhibition started on Saturday at the city's urban planning exhibition hall, showing the changes of the Nanjing Road E. area over a century.

The exhibition titled "The Heart of the City" displays the development of the People's Square with many historical photos from the city's municipal archives, the changes on the roads and shopping malls in the downtown community and the original lifestyle of local lane-style neighborhoods.

It is part of the events to celebrate the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on Saturday. 

The shopping street, cinemas, amusement parks and hotel within the Nanjing Road E. community are highlighted at the exhibition with photos, architectural models and videos.

Retiree Ye Hegui came with 30 members of his cycling club. The group met at the villa around 8:30am.

“We thought we arrived early but still had to wait in a line,” said Ye.

Visitors watch a model of Shanghai's shikumen, or stone-gate residential building, at "The Heart of the City" exhibition at the city's urban planning exhibition hall on Saturday.

A visitor watches a photo about the Nanjing Road E. community at "The Heart of the City" exhibition at the city's urban planning exhibition hall on Saturday.

A historical photo of the Nanjing Road E. taken in 1930s, for instance, is exhibited as the first shopping street of Shanghai. A 3D model of the 83.8-meter Park Hotel, which had been the tallest structure in Asia for nearly half a century, has also attracted many visitors.

"I've been living in the Nanjing Road E. community for over six decades and come to the exhibition to memorize its former glories through the historical photos," said Fan Hongtao, one of the old residents invited to visit the exhibition.

Five aerial photos of the downtown region taken by the city's institute of surveying and mapping between 1948 and 2017 will be displayed for the first time, along with seven maps dating back to 1884.

The exhibits also include 10 videos featuring senior downtown residents who narrate their memories and stories from the past.

The exhibition jointly organized by the Nanjing Road E. Subdistrict, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and the Huangpu District archives will run through August 5.

There are some popular tours including Nanjing Road:
https://www.tripstoshanghai.com/tours/show/shanghai_day_tour_incredible_shanghai_private_highlights_tour.htm
https://www.tripstoshanghai.com/tours/show/shanghai_night_city_tour_with_huangpu_river_night_cruise.htm
https://www.tripstoshanghai.com/tours/show/half_day_shanghai_city_tour.htm

Source: SHINE