Recently, the Shanghai Concert Hall has opened its doors for self-guided tours from Monday to Saturday, allowing visitors to freely explore this prestigious venue, which holds the title of being the first professional concert hall in China.
Now, in addition to enjoying musical feasts, people can immerse themselves in the rich history and architectural wonders of this landmark during their leisure time.
Shanghai’s First Theater to Screen Foreign Films
In 1929, Ho Ting-yen, the manager of Shanghai Nanyi Company, leased a plot of land from the Teochew Guild at the intersection of Route Edward VII and Route Magy Passy (now the intersection of Yan’an East Road and Longmen Road) to build a theater.
He invited Fan Wenzhao and Zhao Shen, the first generation of Chinese architects who studied in the United States, to design the building.
Completed in 1930, the theater was named Nanking Theater and became the first Western-style classical theater designed and constructed by Chinese architects.
With a seating capacity of over 1,500, it was one of the most luxurious cinemas in Shanghai at the time and a gathering place for the city’s fashionable crowd.
On March 26, 1930, the theater opened with the screening of the American musical film “Broadway,” making it the first theater in Shanghai to show foreign films.
From its opening until 1949, the theater primarily focused on screening movies and obtained exclusive rights to premiere new films from American companies such as Fox, United Artists, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The venue also hosted various performances, including the Vienna Ball, the play “The Family,” the Italian musical “The Golden Thread,” the musical “The Weaving Maid,” the Huju opera “The White-Haired Girl,” and the Yue opera “The Little Cowherd” and “The Five Rings.”
In April and May of 1946, Mei Lanfang reorganized his troupe and performed Ping opera here for 12 consecutive days, causing a sensation.
In November 1950, the theater was leased by the Dazhong Cinema Company and renamed Beijing Cinema after undergoing renovations.
It became the first public-private partnership enterprise in Shanghai’s cinema industry, still primarily focusing on film screenings.
China’s First Professional Concert Hall
In 1959, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, numerous music and dance performances were held in various theaters across Shanghai.
Upon the strong recommendation of renowned musicians such as Ding Shande, He Luting, Huang Yizhun, and Tan Shuzhen, the Shanghai Concert Hall became the first concert hall in the country.
The stage and orchestra pit were renovated accordingly, and for the next several decades, it remained one of the central hubs for musical activities in Shanghai.
Since 1960, the Shanghai Concert Hall has been the primary venue for the “Shanghai Spring” Music Festival and the International Radio Music Festival held in Shanghai.
International and domestic music groups visiting Shanghai have also mostly performed here. Local troupes consider this venue as their top choice for showcasing new works and artists.
To meet the performance requirements of large-scale symphony orchestras, the Shanghai Concert Hall underwent extensive renovations and modifications in late 1991 and reopened in 1993.
In 2002, as part of urban redevelopment, this historic building, weighing 5,650 tons, underwent a remarkable relocation and renovation project that garnered worldwide attention.
The entire structure was moved 66.46 meters and raised by 3.38 meters, creating a miracle in China’s architectural relocation history.
To preserve urban memories, give the building a new lease on life, and provide audiences with higher-quality music and cultural products and services, the concert hall underwent another round of closed-door renovations from 2019 to 2020 and reopened to the public on September 6, 2020.
Immersive Experience of the Old Building’s “Ambiance”
Today, even without attending a concert, citizens and tourists can enter the concert hall and immerse themselves in the essence and intricacies of the building’s architectural design, learn about its legendary relocation experience, and feel the most classical “ambiance” that has persisted for 94 years.
QR codes are placed within the open areas, allowing visitors to scan and learn about the background stories of each section of the hall.
On the second-floor corridor of the concert hall, a multimedia music wall is displayed. Here, visitors can simply put on headphones and listen to live recordings of numerous renowned artists and ensembles who have graced the stage of the concert hall.
Shanghai Concert Hall
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00-14:00 (Reservations open 2 weeks in advance; subject to actual reservation opening times)
Visiting Areas: Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall 1st Floor North Hall, Auditorium, East and West Halls; 2nd Floor Auditorium, East and West Halls
Ticket Price: ￥30 per person (no guided tour)
*Children under 1.2 meters in height are admitted free of charge (must be accompanied by an adult; one adult can bring two children); seniors aged 70 and above and active military personnel can enjoy a 50% discount with valid identification (on-site purchase required)
Address: No. 523 Yan’an East Road, Huangpu District, Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall, Gate 8 (near Yan’an Elevated Road)
