Shanghai is both stunning
and thought-provoking

I fell under Shanghai's spell as soon as I set foot on the Bund.

It is a harmonious mix of the old and the new ‑ Renaissance-styled architecture depicts the flair of an older Shanghai while modern buildings and skyscrapers on the other side or the river, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, provide a contemporary scenic backdrop. The contemporary design of the promenade, complemented by an artistic lighting scheme, is simultaneously in contrast to and in harmony with the historical buildings across the street; the lamp posts along the promenade seem to stretch into infinity… Every component blends perfectly and the beauty really got under my skin.

The same ambience could be found all around the city, including Xintiandi and the Shanghai Exhibition Centre (where the 100% Design Shanghai is held every year). Yet, somehow, Shanghai reminds me a lot of Beijing. These two places don’t look the same and they represent two different eras – Shanghai illustrates the glamour and elegance of its past; Beijing embodies its ancient grandeur – but their rich heritage, in the form of architecture, merges perfectly into their modern cityscapes.

Their historical buildings are not isolated from contemporary structures, but each type acts as a complement to the other and are unified with the same contemporary/historical aura, forming a beautiful picture. That’s why both Shanghai and Beijing entranced me.

Their historical buildings – maybe now a hotel, bank headquarters, a government building, an apartment block or even an exhibition centre – are alive, not something dead that barely lingers on. Ordinary people live, work and play in these buildings, breathing life into them.

Big cities like Shanghai and Beijing seem to do pretty well with combining revitalisation and preservation with urbanisation. That said, I remain rather dubious about the general situation in China. In the smaller towns of Guangdong province, where I visit once or twice a year, heritage is sacrificed at the altar of rapid urban development. Most historical buildings in such towns are either left to decay or demolished without a second thought to make way for new development. They don’t seem to give a damn.

Maybe it’s time we went a step further to look at the bigger picture, making the effort to preserve our heritage in smaller places in China as well, not just the big, prominent cities like Shanghai and Beijing.