Dome Mosaics of Pudong Development Bank (Former HSBC Headquarters of Shanghai Branch)
The Pudong Development Bank is a majestic-looking building with a history of more than 80 years. In 1920, when it was being constructed, the Bund was designed to be “the Wall Street of Asia” and the new building was to become the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank’s new headquarters to dominate the Bund. Sparing no expense in its construction, almost every piece of the building was crafted overseas and shipped to Shanghai at enormous cost.
The edifice was completed on June 23, 1923 and the opening was viewed as one of the most important events in the commercial world that year.
Among many other highlights, the mosaic murals on the interior dome is the one especially worth mentioning.
On the ceiling of the octagonal entrance hall of the bank building are eight mosaic murals that depict the twelve signs of the zodiac, as well personifications of the Sun and Moon. An enterprising architect had the mosaics covered over in stucco and paint to save them from destruction during the Cultural Revolution. In 1997, renovations uncovered them. The Pudong Development Bank then funded the restoration, but changed the HSBC emblems in the paintings to the Pudong Development Bank emblem.
The eight murals depict eight cities in which HSBC had branches: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, New York, Bangkok, Paris, and Calcutta. In between every two panels are found eight words which all together make a popular Chinese saying: “All men in the four seas are brothers.” Each fresco features a principal mythological figure, supported by personifications of local rivers and the city, with city scenery in the background.
15-min walk from West Nanjing Road Station of Metro Line 2
Tours That Go to Dome Mosaics of Pudong Development Bank (Former HSBC Headquarters of Shanghai Branch)
Shanghai Jewish Tour
Jewish plays an important role in the development of Shanghai. Our tour will take you to explore the most historical sites by Jewish .
Our Jewish tour will visit the following spots :
...Read moreJewish plays an important role in the development of Shanghai. Our tour will take you to explore the most historical sites by Jewish .
Our Jewish tour will visit the following spots :
1: Peace Hotel The larger North Building, located at Number 20, The Bund, is called Sassoon House. It was built by Sir Victor Sassoon, of the Sassoon family, which built a Shanghai business and real estate empire in the early 20th century. He was a BritishSephardic Jew of Iraqi origin, educated at Cambridge and Harrow. His family managed extensive business holdings in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Calcutta. Sassoon House was the first high-rise building built by Victor Sassoon, and one of the first skyscrapers in the Eastern Hemisphere. It was designed by architectsPalmer and Turner, with a reinforced concrete structure. Construction began in 1926, and was completed in 1929.[3]
2: The Bund
3: Former HSBC Building
4: Shanghai Jewish Regugees Museum
5: Hengshan Moller Vill Hotel
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Re: Dome Mosaics of Pudong Development Bank (Former HSBC Headquarters of Shanghai Branch)
Mural rich in metaphor followed by progressive three levels: the center of the sun god dome pattern is known as a symbol of the empire the sun never sets in the British Empire: the outer layer is a 12 second constellation, Gemini, Taurus, Sagittarius, Cancer, Aquarius ......, all of them unique style, shape fresh, surrounded by the sun in the universe: the third layer of human pattern is HSBC Bank branch location city: Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Paris, New York, Bangkok , tokyo, Calcutta. Pattern respectively as background branches throughout the building, and so on, respectively, to the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of the gods 8, showing the HSBC business development and capital expansion in the world.
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