Built in 1917, the Great World ( Dashijie )Amusement Center has a checkered past. It was rumored to have been built by a Shanghainese organized crime boss. After Liberation (the Chinese Revolution), the building has been used for various purposes until its' current status as one Shanghai's largest entertainment facilities. Inside there is an art exhibition hall, a multi-purpose hall (tearoom, ballroom, or conference room), a music hall, a theatre, a cinema, recreation hall, a bumper car yard, a video game room, a billiard room, and last, but not least, a laser gun game arena.

The art exhibition hall exhibits calligraphy, painting, folk paper cut, clay sculpture and photographic work of art. In the theatres, one can see Beijing opera, Suzhou opera, Wuxi opera, Zhejiang opera, Shanghai opera, Yangzhou opera, Ningpo opera, Chaozhou opera, Chinese "stand-up" comedy performances (or xiangsheng), acrobatics, magic can all be seen. Check local schedules for listings.

The best show of all starts at 7:30pm nearly everyday with martial arts, acrobatics, ethnic dancing, and lion dancing performances.