Wukang Building: Seriously, What's the Big Deal? Am I Missing Something?
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Actually, the Wukang Building itself has immense value. It's a design by Hudec, and like the Park Hotel, Moore Memorial Church, and Grand Cinema, it's filled with the classical romantic style of the 1930s. Moreover, back then, the Wukang Building was the only red-brick building on Huaihai Road (Avenue Joffre) and was a significant landmark. Unfortunately, the crowds visiting now are mostly just there for an 'influencer check-in' and know nothing of its history. It's quite sad.
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Celebrities like actors Zhao Dan, Wang Renmei, Qin Yi, Sun Daolin, Wang Wenjuan, as well as writer Wang Anyi, artist Liu Haisu, former Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, and economist Yu Guangyuan, were all once residents of the Wukang Building.
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Following the trend to take photos and 'check in' is a common way for Chinese people to travel.
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Haha, that's true.
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You don't need to understand it too deeply. This is just the 'people at No. 200' (likely referring to authorities) leveraging external demand to create an artificial economic activity. In essence, it's just a business to rake in cash. Of course, they're not fools; you won't find such 'monsters and demons' (i.e., this kind of chaotic scene) on nearby Kangping Road (a sensitive area).
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That makes some sense. After all, there isn't much else that's fun to do in Shanghai.
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Aren't there buildings like this everywhere?
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After all these years, I've never stopped to take a close look either. It's just an old residential building. Is it famous just because it's at a three-way intersection?
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First it was the Wukang Building, then Wukang Road plus Anfu Road. I've strolled around before, and honestly, there wasn't much to see. Then it became an internet sensation. The streets started filling up with influencers, attractive people, all sorts of rich kids, and 'characters.' Now, I actually find it somewhat interesting to visit.
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The 'Anfu Road Little Princess'? I actually saw her a few times a long time ago at Dimei Shopping Center near People's Square. She just blew up in fame after that.
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Any random building in Europe is more magnificent than this. After seeing the architecture on the Bund, this one is nothing special.
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Exactly. European architecture is what you call truly 'meticulously crafted.' Many church walls there don't even have repeating sculptures.