Great World
The Great World is a famous entertainment complex in Shanghai. It opened in 1917, created by Huang Chujiu. It was the city’s first big indoor amusement arcade and became very popular, earning the nickname “No. 1 Entertainment Venue in the Far East.” It sits at the corner of Avenue Edward VII (now Yan’an Road) and Yu Ya Ching Road (now Middle Xizang Road).
In 1928, it was rebuilt in an eclectic European Baroque style with a tall four‑storey tower that became a landmark. The complex offered arcades, parlour games, music and variety shows, and traditional Chinese theatre. It later added more theatres, opera, and folk arts. It was very influential and inspired imitators across China.
In 1931, ownership passed to Huang Jinrong. On August 14, 1937, Great World was the site of a bombing during the Battle of Shanghai. Many people outside the building were killed or injured. There are different theories about the bombs, including a possible aim at a nearby Japanese warship.
After 1949, it was renamed People’s Amusement Arcade, but it returned to the name Great World in 1958. It was closed during the Cultural Revolution and became Shanghai Youth Palace in 1974. It reopened on January 25, 1981 as the Great World Entertainment Centre, and later kept the name Great World.
SARS closed it in 2003, and it reopened in March 2017 to mark its 100th year. The basic layout has stayed the same since 1928, though the attractions have changed. Today it includes theater, music hall, cinema, video hall, magic, dancing, KTV, a tea house, a snack corridor, restaurants, and shops. It is made of three four‑storey buildings with two annexes and a simple style, topped by a central Baroque‑inspired spire. Near the entrance are the famous distorting mirrors that have delighted visitors for more than a century.
The Great World remains a major tourist attraction for visitors from across China, even as newer entertainment options appear. Address: 1 Xizang Road, Shanghai.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:48 (CET).