After the Cultural Revolution, Children's Palaces for children of working parents were created all over China for after school care. The Children's Palace occupies a mansion that was begun in 1930 and completed in 1934. It is one of many Children's Palaces in Shanghai.

The Children Palaces is one of the most famous and is basically designed for children to study and practice the arts after school. Today, talented children attend and learn to dance and sing, the theater, play folk or Western musical instruments, Wushu, ballet, computer science as well as other art skill. Many programs evolved to provide after-school classes for gifted and talented children in various arts. Some of the programs offer additional science and math as well. The programs are operated on a shoestring and in an attempt to be self-supporting they bring in tourists.