The civic heart of Shanghai, centred on the vast open space of People's Square — formerly the Shanghai Racecourse under the British concession, then a military parade ground, now a public park surrounded by the city's main cultural and government institutions. The square and its surroundings feel more formal than the cafe-dense neighbourhoods nearby, but the density of museums and the metro interchange beneath it make it an unavoidable part of any serious visit.
The Shanghai Museum on the south side holds one of the world's great collections of Chinese art — bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and furniture across dozens of galleries. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall has an extraordinary scale model of the city's entire urban area. The Shanghai Grand Theatre is the city's main opera and ballet venue. Nanjing Road pedestrian street, running east from the square, is the main retail artery.