Xujiahui Academy: A new landmark of Haipai culture, the "second study room" for citizens

It's been about half a year since I last visited Xujiahui. When I went there again, I found out that the hottest place in Xujiahui is not any tourist spot or shopping mall, but Xujiahui Academy. The most eye-catching thing after entering the academy is the "Basilica" style atrium, a perfect internet celebrity check-in point, I guess many people come here for this. Inside the academy, there are people who are focused and reading everywhere, some are sitting on the floor, some are reading and writing, some are bending over to check the catalog... In addition to reading and checking information, drinking coffee in the academy, you can also visit exhibitions and hunt for cultural and creative products, it is indeed a good place to go. The Xujiahui Academy, which looks like a box from the outside, was designed by David Chipperfield, the winner of the 2023 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the designer of the West Bank Art Museum, and a famous British architect. The interior was completed by the famous architect Yu Ting's team. The name "Xujiahui Academy" comes from Xu Guangqi, the first person in Chinese-Western cultural exchange. The prominent "Xujiahui Academy" on the building also comes from Xu Guangqi's handwriting. The English name of the academy, "ZIKAWEI", comes from the Wade-Giles romanization of "Xujiahui" in Shanghai dialect. This English expression can also be found in many historical maps and documents related to Xujiahui. The name "Xujiahui Academy" highlights that this building is not just a library, but a cultural symbol, expressing awe for the accumulation of regional culture and the inheritance of cultural context. Xujiahui Academy is a library, but also an open and complex new space for cultural tourism. It integrates reading, communication, exhibition, tourism, cultural and creative, and leisure. It is born in the light and walks towards the light. It is known as the "second study room" for everyone to enjoy, and it is also a new landmark of Haipai culture. 📍Detailed address: No. 158, Caoxi North Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 🕙Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00 Xujiahui Academy