Wukang Building: Seriously, What's the Big Deal? Am I Missing Something?
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Hey, let me tell you about the Wukang Building!
Every day when I commute to work, I pass by it. Oh my, the opposite sidewalk is always packed with people looking at this building from front to back.
Background Information: The Wukang Building, which is a famous historic apartment building in Shanghai, has become a red-hot tourist attraction due to its unique look resembling the bow of a large ship.
We regular pedestrians can't squeeze through and have no choice but to walk on the road instead, which is quite dangerous given all the passing vehicles.
Frankly, I really can't figure out what charm the building holds to attract so many people. Who on earth first started promoting it as a must-see landmark?
To top it off, almost every travel guide recommending places to visit in Shanghai list the Wukang Building as a "must-go" site, which I find rather puzzling.
Let's not even talk about how it has severely disrupted the daily life of the residents living in that building. For a "city walk," I would say that the experience of walking around the Wukang Building area is much inferior to that of Huaihai Road, another famous commercial street in Shanghai with many shops and old buildings.
Special Reminder for Foreign Friends: If you plan to visit the Wukang Building:- Pedestrian Sidewalk Crowded
Problem: The sidewalk across the street (the best spot for taking pictures) is often overcrowded with people taking photos, making it hard for you to pass normally and sometimes having to walk closer to the edge of the driving lane.
Solution: Try to choose non-peak periods, such as early morning during weekdays. During weekends and holidays, there are usually a lot of people.
2) Photo-taking Experience
Problem: Due to the large number of visitors, taking a clear picture without other tourists in the background is almost impossible.
Solution: Relax your mindset and accept that there will be many people in the background, or try taking photos from different angles, like moving further away from the building.
3) Respect for Residents
Problem: Loud talking or long stays may disturb the normal lives of residents living in the building.
Solution: Maintain silence when taking photos and don't disturb local residents.
My Recommendation (if you want to explore the city):
If you just want to feel the charm of Shanghai's streets, Huaihai Road or other sections of Wukang Road (in terms of fewer people), might provide a better walking experience, as there are still plenty of beautiful old houses and small stores along these places.
You could include the Wukang Building as part of your route, but don't expect to hang out there for too long leisurely. -
The residents living there must be quite bothered by it too.
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More than just bothered! The residents have to keep their curtains drawn day and night because so many people use binoculars to peek in. They have absolutely no privacy.
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Actually, the Wukang Building itself has immense value. It's a design by Hudec, and like the Park Hotel, Moore Memorial Church, and Grand Cinema, it's filled with the classical romantic style of the 1930s. Moreover, back then, the Wukang Building was the only red-brick building on Huaihai Road (Avenue Joffre) and was a significant landmark. Unfortunately, the crowds visiting now are mostly just there for an 'influencer check-in' and know nothing of its history. It's quite sad.
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Celebrities like actors Zhao Dan, Wang Renmei, Qin Yi, Sun Daolin, Wang Wenjuan, as well as writer Wang Anyi, artist Liu Haisu, former Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, and economist Yu Guangyuan, were all once residents of the Wukang Building.
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Following the trend to take photos and 'check in' is a common way for Chinese people to travel.
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Haha, that's true.
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You don't need to understand it too deeply. This is just the 'people at No. 200' (likely referring to authorities) leveraging external demand to create an artificial economic activity. In essence, it's just a business to rake in cash. Of course, they're not fools; you won't find such 'monsters and demons' (i.e., this kind of chaotic scene) on nearby Kangping Road (a sensitive area).
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That makes some sense. After all, there isn't much else that's fun to do in Shanghai.
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Aren't there buildings like this everywhere?
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After all these years, I've never stopped to take a close look either. It's just an old residential building. Is it famous just because it's at a three-way intersection?
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First it was the Wukang Building, then Wukang Road plus Anfu Road. I've strolled around before, and honestly, there wasn't much to see. Then it became an internet sensation. The streets started filling up with influencers, attractive people, all sorts of rich kids, and 'characters.' Now, I actually find it somewhat interesting to visit.
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The 'Anfu Road Little Princess'? I actually saw her a few times a long time ago at Dimei Shopping Center near People's Square. She just blew up in fame after that.
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Any random building in Europe is more magnificent than this. After seeing the architecture on the Bund, this one is nothing special.
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Exactly. European architecture is what you call truly 'meticulously crafted.' Many church walls there don't even have repeating sculptures.