Historic Shanghai Concert Hall to reopen Sunday following renovation

From its signature blue ceiling to the 16 Collins columns in the northern lobby, the 90-year-old Shanghai Concert Hall revealed its full glory to visiting journalists on Wednesday after a large restoration project that kept the city's oldest music hall closed for 18 months.

This is the first large-scale renovation and maintenance project of the historic building since 2003. Originally named Nanking Theatre, Shanghai Concert Hall was constructed in 1930 as one of the finest cinemas in the city.

In 2003 the whole building was moved 66.46 meters to the southeast and lifted 3.38 meters to make way for the Yan'an Elevated Road. In 2004 the refurbished and restored Shanghai Concert Hall opened to public. It remained in use for the next 15 years, holding more than 500 concerts every year.

The facilities and equipment were aged and damaged, and in need of some major repair work, said Fang Jing, the concert hall's general manager.