One of Shanghai’s great Art Deco Cinemas, the Cathay was designed by Hungarian architect C.H. Gonda and opened on January 1, 1932. The main auditorium, which once had 1,080 seats, was made into three separate screens in the '90s – so little remains of the Art Deco splendour of the exterior. Instead the marble lobby is cluttered with a tacky cardboard China Construction Bank adverts and unkempt pot plants. Still, the exterior is stunning, especially at night.
Tickets range from 35-70RMB and the first last screenings are at 10.10am and 9.30pm everyday.