People's Square

Prior to 1949 and the establishment of the people's republic of china, what is now People's Square was a course for horse racing owned by the Shanghai Race Club. After gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist 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 on the Bund, also the Shanghai museum was moved here from its previous site in a former office building. More recent additions include the Shanghai Grand Center and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center.

Other parts of the race course still remain. The clubhouse buildings became the Shanghai Art museum, while part of the race track became People's park, a public park to the north of People's Square.

Located at the very center of the city, People's Square is a garden-type open space surrounded by buildings and facilities for administration, cultural activities, transportation and commerce.

On its north is the People's Mansion, to its northwest the Shanghai Grand Theater, to its northeast the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, and to its south the Shanghai Museum. Flanked on both sides by 17-meter-wide green belts, People's Avenue goes across the center of the square. The total green areas in the square reach 80,000 square meters. Seemingly the only broad expanse in the city, spreading before the newly built Museum, People's Square is now perhaps the most popular place for city residents to unwind. Watch the men fly beautiful handmade kites, see the couples waltz, observe the only-children with their doting parents. Quite centrally located, the Square also offers an interesting panorama of Shanghai's skyline old and new.