The Big World in Shanghai

The Big World is an amusement arcade and entertainment complex located in Shanghai, China. Built in 1917 on the corner of Avenue Edward VII (now Yan'an Road) and Yu Ya Ching Road (now Middle Xizang Road), it was the first and for a long time the most influential indoor amusement arcade in Shanghai, so much so that it spawned imitations all over China. It had gained a reputation as the “No. 1 Entertainment Venue in the Far East.”

While the traditional style entertainment offered by the Big World today faces great competition from newer forms of entertainment and electronic media, it remains an important tourist attraction popular with visitors to Shanghai from other parts of China.

Positioned at the junction between Tibet South Road and Yan’an Viaduct, Big World is billed as the “largest play center in the Far East.” When night falls, its iconic French-style hexagonal tower lights up like a fairytale castle. When it first opened for business in 1917, Big World already introduced many entertainment facilities that were innovative for the time such as funhouse mirrors, bumper cars, carousels and spaceships. The play center preserves memories of childhood for generations of local residents. In 2017, Big World reopened after 14 years of renovation, with its unique Chinese-style corridor and entertainment facilities restored.

Today, visitors can again see distorted reflections in the 12 funhouse mirrors, which used to be one of the most popular entertainments of the play center.