Opened in 1898, this opera house adds a French touch to the heart of Shanghai, the result of a design by the architect Jean-Marie Charpentier, and a stage curtain by the painter Olivier Debré. The building’s architecture pays homage to the Earth and the Cosmos, resulting in a massive square base – in China the square symbolises our planet – and a lofty cupola, as the circle represents the heavens. The opera house is best viewed at night, when its illumination gives it greater dimension and a softer appearance.