Grand Cinema, Art Deco movie theater in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Grand Cinema is an Art Deco movie theater on West Nanjing Road in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China, with six screening rooms. The interior is lined with Italian marble and features wrought iron railings along the staircases and balconies.
The building was designed in 1933 by Hungarian architect László Hudec, who left a lasting mark on Shanghai's architecture during that era. It opened at a time when the city was one of the most active entertainment centers in Asia.
For decades, going to this cinema was a way for Shanghai residents to experience stories from around the world on a grand screen, something rare in 1930s China. Today visitors still come as much to see the hall itself as to watch a film.
The main screening room spans two levels and seats around 1,500 people, giving it an open and roomy feel. The ground floor has a small gallery with photographs and objects from the theater's past, worth a look even without a film ticket.
The facade features sail-shaped glass panels that stand out from the usual Art Deco vocabulary, and a large illuminated sign box at the top becomes very visible after dark. This combination makes the building easy to spot from the street at night.
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