The Historic Building That Witnessed Half of Shanghai's Glamorous Past | The Jinjiang Hotel

As a history and architecture enthusiast who has wandered through countless heritage buildings in Shanghai on weekends, today I bring you the story of the 96-year-old "Old Klass" landmark at 108 West Nanjing Road—The Jinjiang Hotel. Emerging from People's Square subway station, your gaze is immediately drawn to the 9-meter-tall gilded clock tower, resembling an Italian crown perched atop West Nanjing Road. This is the Hua'an Building (now The Jinjiang Hotel), completed in 1926—Shanghai's first skyscraper that topped the city's skyline 8 years before the Park Hotel. Though "only" 38 meters tall by today's standards, it once commanded panoramic views of the Shanghai Race Club! Upon closer inspection, the building's lower two floors are entirely clad in granite, featuring rugged stone columns and splayed stone steps. Architect Elliott Hazzard played with eclectic styles: Romanesque arches carved from single granite blocks resemble tailored trouser cuffs, while the 9-meter gilded clock tower supported by Corinthian columns crowns the structure like a gentleman's top hat. Pushing through the original 1926 brass-handled revolving door, the lobby reveals an intricately carved lily-patterned dome. The 18 marble columns with cloud motifs are said to be single blocks of Italian marble shipped overseas. The vintage elevator doors still retain their cast-iron vine patterns—cool and weighty to the touch. A right turn leads to a mezzanine level where an unassuming wooden door opens to a 15㎡ history room. Small but packed with artifacts: ✅ 1945 wedding banquet invitation of General Zhang Lingfu ✅ 1950s silverware donated by overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia ✅ Hundreds of historic photos: Chiang Kai-shek's inscriptions, Soong Ching-ling's press conferences, and Premier Zhou Enlai receiving foreign guests ✅ Registration books from its days as Overseas Chinese Hotel 📜 The building's story rivals the drama of "Blossoms Shanghai," having witnessed the city's tumultuous history: ➡️ 1926: Headquarters of China's first domestic insurance company "Hua'an Union," then Shanghai's tallest building (8 years before Park Hotel) ➡️ 1940: Transformed into The Jinjiang Hotel—where Zhang Lingfu held his wedding ➡️ 1958: Renamed Overseas Chinese Hotel, hosting returning diaspora ➡️ 1992: Reverted to The Jinjiang Hotel to this day 📍: 108 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu District (opposite Exit 8 of People's Square Station, Metro Lines 1/2/8) ⏰ History Room: 🆓 10:00-16:00