According to the Shanghai Tourism Administration, the city is pushing ahead with its efforts to equip historic buildings with QR codes, with a unified standard and format for texts, photos, audio and videos. The QR codes will allow people to read or hear the stories and histories of these historic buildings and protected areas.

A total of 1,098 heritage buildings, 265 former residences of famous figures, 44 historic conservation areas and 77 community blocks are included in the first batch of historical sites.

How to scan the code? Follow our reporter to the Bund and Wukang Road and have a go at the historic buildings there!

(Shanghai Club)

(The Mercantile Bank of India, London and China)

(Asia Building)

(Wukang Road)

A sample of pilot districts

Huangpu: 22 heritage buildings along the Bund can be read in both Chinese and English with text and pictures. Wooden QR-code plates have also been produced for another 40 historical buildings and 10 old alleyways in the East Nanjing Road neighborhood community.

Xuhui: Xuhui District has nearly 80 historic buildings equipped with QR codes. In some former residences of famous figures on Wukang Road, a VR guide is also available.

Jing’an: QR codes for panoramic travel maps have been launched in Jing’an and historical sites like the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Shanghai Natural History Museum and Jing’an Temple can be accessed by simply scanning the QR codes.

Yangpu: The district features many industrial buildings and has therefore been promoting  technologically and culturally innovative tourism focused on such historical industrial buildings as Yangshupu Water Plant and Yihe Cotton Mill. VR panoramic travel maps have also been released for these sites along the Huangpu riverside.

The QR code project comes in handy for many tourists who want to know the stories behind these historic buildings. “It helps the tourists to understand the city better and appreciate everything rather than just walk past it. Now we can read a bit of history and also understand the background,” said a traveler from Australia.