People’s Square is a large public square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China. It is south of Nanjing Road (West) and north of Huaihai Road (East).
People’s Square is the site of Shanghai’s municipal government headquarters building and the standard reference point for measurement of distance of almost all highways in the Shanghai municipality is set in the north of the square, near the fountain.
Prior to 1949 and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, what is now People’s Square was a course for horse racing owned by the Shanghai Race Club. After gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist government, a part of the race course became People’s Square, which included a large avenue and spectator stands for use during parades.