The People's Square　人民广场

The People's Square, located in the center of Shanghai, begins at Middle Xizang Road in the east, reaches Wusheng Road in the south, borders North Huangpi Road in the west, and gets to West Nanjing Road in the north, with a total area of over 30000 m². The People's Avenue, running from east to west through the square, divides it into the north and south parts. The north part is the People's Park, and the south part is the open-plaza green land. The square is surrounded with major scenic spots and cultural sites like People's Mansion, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Grand Theater, Shanghai Gallery, Music Fountain, Great World Amusement Center, Shanghai Workers' Cultural Palace, Shanghai Conservatory and Fuzhou Road — a cultural street, etc.

It is the geographical center of the city. In November 1950, Shanghai Land Administration Bureau chose the top of the Park Hotel as the pivotal point of Shanghai. In 1998, when the Park Hotel underwent a major renovation, the hotel made a landmark monument, i.e. the Pivotal Point of Shanghai, with the intention to fully exploit the meaningful tourist resource. It is open to the tourists. The State Highways 312,318, and 320 take the People's Square as the 0 km starting point, and it is also the terminal point for State Highway 204.

The People's Square is also the political center of Shanghai. The People's Mansion, located at the center of the square, is the HQ for Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and Shanghai Municipal Government. And it is where the people of Shanghai hold important and grand political and social activities. For example, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959, an unprecedented parade was held here. And in 1981, a grand military parade was staged to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army here. And the opening ceremony of the First Huangpu Tourism Festival (now it has been changed into Shanghai Tourism Festival) was conducted here.

The People's Square is the cultural and art center of Shanghai. In the square there are Shanghai Grand Theater, reputed as the Palace of Art; Shanghai Museum, termed as the National Treasure; and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, which demonstrates the great achievements in the modernized construction of Shanghai; as well as Shanghai Gallery, Great World Amusement Center, Shanghai Workers' Cultural Palace, and Fuzhou Road—a cultural street in the vicinity of the square.

The People's Square is the urban transportation center of Shanghai. Metro lines meet underneath the square, making the busiest transportation lines of the city. And at the square are Bus 46, Bus 123, Bus 203, Bus 503, Bus 531, Bus 925, Bus 934, Tunnel Line 6, Huqing Bus, which go into every direction of Shanghai. And the two elevated highways that run from east to west and from north to south through the city also cross not far from the square.

The People's Square is a tourism center for the locals and the visitors. Three nine-meter-wide thoroughfares divide the square into six parts, of which one is occupied by Shanghai Museum and the other five are green lands covering a total area of 80,000 m². In the green lands, granite paths are laid and semi-circular chairs are set, making a private environment for people to rest. The People's Park to the north of the People's Square covers an area of 10,000 m². Every day many people come here to stroll, exercise, dance, and play. At the weekend, the square is even more crowded with tourists.

When night falls, the road lights, the ground lights, the lights on the tops of the buildings and all the other lights emit colorful beams, displaying the brilliant theme of the city amidst the rural landscaping. Near the square, there are the Grand Cinema and the Pedestrian Street of Nanjing Road, providing considerable convenience for the tourists. In 1999, the People's Square was voted No.1 in the ten best night scenes of Shanghai.

Address: People's Avenue

Accessible to visitors by Bus 17, Bus 18, Bus 20, Bus 23, Bus 27, Bus 46, Bus 48, Bus 49, Tunnel Line 3, Tunnel Line 6, Metro No.1, Metro No.2, etc.