This book serves as a historical record and travel guide designed to capture the social and cultural landscape of 1930s Shanghai. H. J. Lethbridge provides a curated look at the city during its period of international prominence, utilizing the original 1934 text to offer a window into the urban environment of the era. The work functions as both a primary source for historians and a nostalgic reference for those interested in the architectural and social history of the region.

Experts and historians value this text as a preserved artifact that documents the specific cultural climate of pre-war Shanghai. Readers frequently note the historical density of the prose, which provides a clear view of the city's past status as a global hub.