Old houses contrast with new buildings in the Old City of Shanghai, Sept 14, 2014. [Photo/IC]

The Old City, located in the southeast of Shanghai and covering an area of 200 hectares, is the original settled area of Shanghai city. It was the economic, political and cultural center of the city from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) through the 1930s.

With many cultural relics, including Yuyuan Garden, the Old Chenghuang Temple, the Old City Wall and more, the Old City is dubbed the "Root of Shanghai".

But due to the transformation for municipal planning, the Old City is witnessing many changes.