A 1932 Art Deco cinema on Huaihai Road — the finest surviving example of concession-era cinema architecture in Shanghai — the Cathay Theatre was designed by C.H. Gonda in a streamlined Art Deco style with an interior that preserves much of its original decorative scheme. The cinema is still operating, programming a mix of Chinese and international films.
The exterior facade — stepped parapet, ornamental geometric patterning, original signage — is one of the most photographed commercial buildings in the French Concession. The interior, if you attend a film, preserves the original seating configuration and screen proportions. The cinema is a working cultural venue rather than a heritage attraction, which means it is best appreciated as part of an evening out. Huaihai Road at Maoming Road South.