Picture this. You stand before The Great World a magnificent structure that has witnessed a century of Shanghai’s vibrant history. Its eclectic architecture a blend of European Baroque and traditional Chinese elements.
The Great World opened in 1917. It was the brainchild of Huang Chujiu a Shanghai magnate. It quickly became the most influential indoor amusement arcade in Shanghai. It even earned the title of the No 1 Entertainment Venue in the Far East.
Imagine the bustling crowds that once thronged its five floors. Each level a world unto itself. The first floor a dizzying array of gaming tables singsong girls and magicians. Josef von Sternberg a famous Hollywood director described it vividly in the 1930s. His account details pickpockets slot machines and even acrobats.
As you ascend the stairs you find even more. The second floor housed actors crickets and surprisingly barbers and midwives. The third floor offered a mix of jugglers herb medicines ice cream parlors and a novelty several rows of Western-style toilets.
The fourth floor was just as eclectic. Shooting galleries fan-tan tables massage benches and even dried fish and intestines. The fifth floor was another spectacle. Girls in daring dresses a stuffed whale storytellers and a mirror maze. Love letter booths with scribes guaranteeing results and a temple filled with ferocious gods and joss sticks.
The roof a breathtaking panorama. Tightrope walkers seesaws Chinese checkers mahjong and marriage brokers. The sheer variety is astonishing.
However The Great World’s history is not without tragedy. On August 14 1937 during the Battle of Shanghai. Two bombs from a damaged Republic of China Air Force bomber accidentally exploded in front of The Great World. Thousands of refugees and shoppers were killed or injured. It was a day remembered as Black Saturday.
After the Communist takeover in 1949 The Great World was briefly renamed the People’s Amusement Arcade. It reopened in 1981 as the Great World Entertainment Centre. Closed briefly in 2003 due to the SARS epidemic it reopened in 2017 for its centennial anniversary.
Today The Great World stands as a testament to Shanghai’s enduring spirit. A place that once offered a dazzling array of entertainment. Now it continues to captivate visitors with its unique blend of history culture and entertainment. Its story a reminder that even in the midst of great change some things endure.