Empire of the sun
As this month’s issue is focused on interiors and property, we thought we’d take a look at some architecture from across the world. Photographer Ramses Radi takes us on a tour of the buildings and districts of Shanghai…
Old woman walks down the street in Yuyuan area, where only a few blocks remain from the old Shanghai. As a symbol of the second biggest economy of the world, Pudon (east of the river) shows its newest skyscraper ‘The Shanghai Tower’, standing at 2,073 feet and 128 floors.
Lujiazui, Pudong District
What it used to be the less-developed land across from Shanghai’s Old City and foreign concessions became the financial hub of modern China in 1993, after the Chinese government set up a Special Economic Zone and Pudong was designated as the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone.
Buddhist Temple, Zhenru
With 800 years of history, the temple was built in Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty. The nine-storied pagoda is 50 metres high, and holds immeasurable Buddhist relics. This temple is a revered landmark in Zhenru Town in the northwest of Shanghai.
Water town, Zhujiajiao
20 minutes south from the centre of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao was established about 1,700 years ago. Zhujiajiao means literally ‘Zhu Family Corner’, but is actually not a town. Only a few streets survive against the unstoppable modernization of China that reaches every corner of the city, as we can see in the background.
The China Pavilion
The China Pavilion is known as ‘The Oriental Crown’ because of its resemblance to an ancient Chinese crown. It was built by the architect He Jingtang for the Expo2010 and reopened in 2012 as the China Art Museum. This bad boy cost US$220 million.
Wen Miao Confucius Temple
Built in 1296 and rebuilt in 1999 after suffering several destructions, the temple suffered major damage during the Taiping Rebellion of the XIX century and later on by the Cultural Revolution of the 60s. What we see is the hall that divides the path for scholars and the path dominated by nature.
SWFC Observatory, Pudong district
The Shanghai World Financial Centre stands at 492 metres (1,614 feet) and is the second tallest building in Shanghai. Visiting the observatory of the SWFC is a must if you’re planning to come to Shanghai. These are the views from the hundredth floor, at 474m (1,555 feet) where you can view the Oriental Pearl and the top of the Jin Mao Tower.
About the photographer
Ramses Radi is a Spanish fashion, portrait and landscape photographer who moved from Sussex and is now based in Shanghai and Hong Kong. He studied philosophy at the University of Madrid UAM, photography at EFTI, and direction of photography in Septima Ars School, before taking a Masters in photojournalism at the former Cover Agency.
After leaving Spain in 2010, he spent one year in Vancouver where he decided to focus on fashion and landscape photography. Later in 2011 moved to Brighton where he created most of his editorial work together with local artists and designers. He now works as senior photographer for the company Luxeporter S.L in China.