Words coming to mind when thinking of Hongqiao Central Business District (CBD) would usually be big transportation, big exhibitions, big business or a company headquarters cluster. While these are truly areas appropriate words, culture is another that definitely should not be ignored, especially in the west part of the CBD.

West Hongqiao is to be developed into a high-end residential area featuring intensive culture characteristics according to the 13th Five-Year Plan of Hongqiao CBD. The cultural creativity industry has been included in the area's six pillar industries.

Below are some major cultural projects currently under construction in West Hongqiao that will hold up the cultural castle in the near future.

Panlong Ancient Town

An artist's impression of the Panlong Ancient Town after its renovation [Photo/en.shhqcbd.gov.cn]

Panlong Ancient Town was built more than 300 years ago in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It used to be one of the major market towns transporting cereals to the urban district of Shanghai. Because of its historical and cultural foundation, the town is currently being renovated into a cultural leisure business area.