The hues around Shanghai
Green
The iconic French planes were first introduced to the former French concession in Shanghai by immigrants from France in the early 20th century as a means of relieving homesickness. The trees gradually became ubiquitous in the city, which is often dubbed the “Paris of the East”. Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, the plane trees also serve a practical purpose — they create a thick canopy that shelters people from the summer heat. Residents armed with fans used to seek reprieve from the scorching sun under these trees before the mid-1990s when air conditioners were still uncommon. Some famous boulevards featuring French planes include Hengshan Road, which is located at the heart of the former French concession. Fuxing Road, which is home to a large number of old Shanghai-style alleys, as well as Shaoxing Road, where people can find several publishing houses that are more than eight decades old. Another popular destination to view these trees is Xinhua Road as it also offers charming views of daily local life and old town houses of different architectural styles which reflect the city’s heritage and diversity. The road is also a storied location as it used to be where government officials welcomed State guests who arrived in Shanghai from Hongqiao International Airport in the 1970s and 80s.
Red
Shanghai’s affinity with red can be traced to its status as the birthplace of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The first national congress of the CPC was held in Shanghai in July 1921, and subsequent sessions were held here in 1922 and 1925. The sites of the historic congress sessions in Shanghai are still standing and are well-preserved. Xu Jiangang, director of the Party History Research Office of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC, said there are 42 verified sites that are related to the early activities of the CPC Central Committee. They include 23 spaces reserved for conferences, five fixed residences for core CPC leaders and 14 news and publicity facilities, such as the publishing house of The
Communist, CPC’s first monthly journal for CPC members. Last November, General Secretary Xi Jinping and six other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the Memorial for the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and this incident triggered a surge in visitor numbers to the site. According to official statistics, the site had a record high of 835,000 visits last year.
Blue
Some global cities have well-known rivers that run through them — London has the River Thames and Paris has the River Seine. Shanghai, on the other hand, is home to two famous water bodies: the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek. The two water bodies played an integral part in the city’s transformation from a sleepy backwater into a vibrant trading hub when shipyards, factories, storehouses and financial institutions sprouted. This meant that they weren’t always as blue as they could be. The local government moved to clean up the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek in the 1990s. By 2010, the Suzhou Creek had taken on an entirely different look and its waterfront area became a popular place for residents to jog and get a tan. The Huangpu River has also been transformed into a public space for leisure and sightseeing. As of the end of last year, the redevelopment of the Huangpu River reached a milestone when the riverfronts on both sides were connected to form a 45-kilometer trail featuring riverside parks and art museums. Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong said in January that the position and quality of water tours on the river, as well as the lighting on both banks, will be upgraded this year to turn the area into a world-class tourism spot.
Gray
Few would disagree that the charm of Shanghai lies in the combination of its bright neon lights, glimmering modern skyscrapers and rustic shikumen houses with gray brick walls that were once the city’s most typical residences. Li Qiang, Shanghai's Party chief, has frequently recommended shikumen houses to guests, citing how these buildings “carry the stories, history and flavor of Shanghai”. Most shikumen neighborhoods were built in the 1930s. There were more than 9,000 shikumen complexes in the city, accounting for roughly twothirds of local residences in 1949, according to municipal records. Although these homes are small and rudimentary, they are nevertheless a symbol of harmony for the residents. Because of their size, neighbors can easily communicate and help one another. It is not uncommon to hear residents alerting their neighbors of rain while helping them bring their laundry indoors. In the past few years, the city’s authorities have been paying greater attention to preserving existing shikumen residences in the downtown area. Many have throughout the past decades made way for high-end residences, shopping malls and office buildings. One of the most prominent examples of repurposed shikumen residences is Xintiandi, which is today a landmark that features a wide selection of fashion boutiques and dining establishments.