Many mansions from Shanghai's opulent past have been given new life in recent years.  One such building is the Kadoorie Mansion, known as well as Marble Hall. It was the home to one of Shanghai's wealthiest families, the Kadoories, Sephardie Jews, originally from Baghdad.

Following the Cultural Revolution Children's Palaces were created all over China for after school care for children of working parents.  One is now located in this mansion and is basically designed for children to study and practice the arts after school.  Today, gifted children attend and study dance, the theater, learn to play a musical instrument, and study computer science as well as other arts.

Visitors are encouraged to attend special performances, but a regular visit to see a variety of classes is of interest as well.  There are only a few things more beautiful than a young Chinese girl in a ballet costume.