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The 3 must-see Art Deco icons in Shanghai

Stunning feats of architecture from Shanghai's glamorous Art Deco era

Posted: Tuesday November 10 2015, Updated: Friday August 25 2017

Cathay Cinema

It's odd to think that the groovy shapes of Art Deco weren't always retro. While Shanghai now has the space-age futurism of the Lujiazui skyline that epitomises the city's rapid embrace of modernity, back in the 1930s Art Deco was the architectural style that expressed the glamour and prosperity of a city on the up. From favourite cinemas to lesser-known hidden gems, today Shanghai remains a city with more Art Deco masterpieces than anywhere else in Asia and here are three of the best.

The Paramount

The Paramount

After shutting for years and undergoing a multi-million RMB facelift, The Paramount has once again flung open its doors. During its ’30s heyday, The Paramount was filled with the kind of unsavoury characters that helped Shanghai earn its infamous nickname, the ‘Whore of the Orient’. It saw a coming together of aristocrats, gangsters, dancers and wealthy Westerners for wild evenings of dubious behaviour. Now restored to its former glory (minus the disreputable elements), The Paramount is back in business as a blinged-out exclusive nightclub with KTV rooms.
The Paramount Ballroom is at 218 Yuyuan Lu, near Changde Lu.

Fairmont Peace Hotel

Fairmont Peace Hotel

A Bund-side treasure and classic Shanghai landmark, the former Cathay Hotel was the most prestigious hotel in Shanghai before 1949 (fun fact: it was where playwright Noel Coward wrote Private Lives) and has been painstakingly restored to its original glory, now with additional luxe modern amenities like a posh spa. Check out the incredible interiors and head to the Jazz Bar where a group of elderly Chinese musicians play jazz classics daily.

Fairmont Peace Hotel is at 20 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu

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