History of The Great World

July 14, 1917: The Great World was opened on the French National Holiday in the French Concession. The compound is as large as Shanghai Disneyland's centerpiece castle.

1931: Following the death of its founder Huang Chujiu, the park was taken over by Huang Jinrong, a mafia kingpin, at a low price. The park was renamed as Rong's Great World and gained notoriety for its gambling operations and sex services.

1955: The venue was renamed Shanghai People's Amusement Park after it was taken over by the municipal government following the founding of the People's Republic of China. The new name was soon dropped as residents still preferred The Great World. The former mafia boss ended up as a sweeper in the facility. Chen Yi, who was then the mayor of Shanghai, later ordered the park to be redesigned into a space for educational purposes.