Shanghai Exhibition Center is a professionally managed economic entity established by approval of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, specializing in conference and exhibition services.
The main building of Shanghai Exhibition Center was completed in March 1955, making it one of the earliest exhibition venues established in Shanghai after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past fifty years, it has hosted major political and diplomatic events, accommodating three generations of Party leadership, as well as numerous heads of state and government from foreign countries. It has consistently provided services for important political tasks and daily important meetings of the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, the Eighth Day of National Army Founding Celebration reception, the National Day reception, and the Spring Festival greetings, among other major political events in Shanghai. It also organizes and hosts hundreds of domestic and international exhibitions and numerous commercial promotion activities for well-known international brands each year, making it one of the main conference centers and renowned exhibition venues in the city. It is an important center for political, economic, scientific, and cultural activities in Shanghai, as well as a window for international exchange, and has made significant contributions to Shanghai's reform and opening-up and social development.
The architecture of the Shanghai Exhibition Center is unique within the Shanghai architectural landscape. Its buildings in the Russian style are majestic and elegant, with elaborate decorations. In 1989, it was named one of the "Top 10 Buildings in Shanghai (1949-1989)" and in 1999, it was named one of the "Top 10 Golden Classic Buildings in Shanghai (50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China)." In 2005, it was named one of the Fourth Batch of Excellent Historical Buildings in Shanghai and was listed in the history of Shanghai architecture. The Shanghai Exhibition Center has been consecutively recognized as a "Civilized Unit" in Shanghai for six consecutive years.
The Shanghai Exhibition Center occupies an area of 9.
Located between Nanjing West Road and Yanan Middle Road, a bustling thoroughfare, the center spans 30,000 square meters with a total construction area of 80,000 square meters, offering an exceptionally advantageous location. After multiple expansions and renovations, a comprehensive overhaul was completed in 2001, preserving the original architectural style while enhancing functionality, creating the "South Exhibition, North Conference" configuration. The current exhibition area is 22,000 square meters, comprising over 40 multi-functional meeting rooms and halls capable of accommodating from dozens to thousands of attendees. The southern area consists of the Order Hall, Central Hall, East Hall 1, West Hall 1, and West Hall 2, while the northern area comprises the Friendship Hall and East Hall 2. These two areas are both independent and interconnected, forming a flexible "South Exhibition, North Conference" configuration.
The Shanghai Exhibition Center, with its modern approach to exhibition operations, first-class facilities, beautiful humanistic environment, professional talent pool, and reliable, human-centered services, will play an even greater role in the Shanghai exhibition industry, contributing significantly to the economic and social development of Shanghai.