LE GRAND MONDE

The Grand World was the largest leisure centre in Asia in the 1930 s. And the incarnation alone of the then sulfureux spirit of Shanghai: in the three structured floors around a central arena (in which there were sometimes wild animals shows), clients had the choice between different rooms and private lounges offering gaming tables, tripots, shows and girls. It's all open all night, of course, bringing together all the wealthy, fêtarde and more or less shady society in Shanghai. This building, which was a real institution, has been rebuilt several times and the current structure dates back to 1924. The Grand World is always open to the public (it reopened at the turn of the st century), but in a totally watered-down form: distorted mirrors, acrobats, magic tricks, electronic games, local opera shows… The somewhat chaotic and slightly Dilapidated side of the site today, the mediocrity of the shows and activities offered makes the experience of the World a little disappointing. But a minimum of imagination makes it possible to represent the baroque and decadent atmosphere of the place a few decades before!