20世纪80年代，改革开放春风吹拂神州大地，万象更新，欣欣向荣。一次跨越万里的邂逅，促成了上海最具代表性史无前例的现代建筑上海商城的诞生，不但改变了上海的城市天际线，也为上海酒店业打造了一个传奇。
1979年，中美关系恢复正常化，改革开放总设计师访问美国期间住在亚特兰大威斯汀桃树广场酒店，并见到了设计师约翰・波特曼。亚特兰大桃树中心，这座包括写字楼购物中心酒店展览空间以及娱乐设施的先驱性的大型商务综合体，给总设计师留下深刻印象。临别时，他向约翰・波特曼提到，中国很需要这样以人为本的现代化商业设施。
波特曼父子感受到了中国改革开放的商机，很快，他们就踏上了前往上海的飞机。对约翰・波特曼这位设计大师来说，上海是现代化都市的完美选址，如同一块空白的画布等待挥洒。他立志在这里打造一座像桃树中心一样的商业综合体，1986年5月，上海商城正式开始动工。
In the 1980s, the spring breeze of reform and opening up blew across the land of China, renewing everything and making it thrive. An encounter that spanned thousands of miles led to the birth of Shanghai‘s most representative and unprecedented modern building, Shanghai Centre, which not only changed Shanghai‘s city skyline, but also created a legend for the Shanghai hotel industry.
In 1979, when SinoAmerican relations resumed normalisation, Deng stayed at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta during his visit to the United States and met the designer John Portman. Deng was impressed by Peachtree Centre Atlanta, a pioneering largescale business complex comprising offices, shopping malls, hotels, exhibition space and entertainment facilities. On his way out, he mentioned to John Portman, the director and designer of Peachtree Centre, that China was in great need of modern, peoplecentred business facilities.
Portman and his son sensed the business opportunities of China‘s reform and opening up, and soon they were on a plane to Shanghai. For John Portman, the master designer, Shanghai was the perfect location for a modern city, a blank canvas waiting to be painted. He set his sights on creating a commercial complex like Peachtree Centre, and in May 1986, construction began on Shanghai Centre.
