DESPITE its long and rich history, Shanghai's past is often overlooked by people who are interested in the city. While it's true that Shanghai's modern age is a brilliant and unmistakable part of its development - and that of China in general - the city's earlier traces provide different ways for people to understand Shanghai.

Anyone who visits Shanghai today will be awed by the modern metropolis, with its tall skyscrapers, bustling financial activity and modern lifestyle. In a city like this, it's easy to conclude that ancient legacies have been eliminated by modern society. But in fact, there are many relics with intriguing stories still remaining in Shanghai; some are just hidden under the trappings of modern civilization.

In the Huangpu District, for instance, there is an ancient mansion at No. 10 to 20, lane 705, Zhonghua Lu. According to historians and archaeologists, this building was constructed between the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There are several names for this mansion, including Baoding Hall, Zunde Hall and Xianyi Hall, reflecting the building's frequently changing owners. But most local residents call it "The Mansion of the Emperor's Son-in-Law" because of the place's connections to ancient royal families.

There are two versions of a story about the first owner of the mansion. According to some historians, the house belonged to a young man who married the daughter of a member of the royal family. After he was married, his father built the mansion for him. As this tale is rather plain, most local residents tend to prefer the second version.

This story holds that the property owner was born in the Ming Dynasty. He was a handsome young man, but a bit unlucky in his studies. After failing to pass the examination to become an official, he travelled to Nanjing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, to make his fortune. It was then that the emperor's eldest daughter decided to choose a husband, and called on qualified young men from all over the nation.

The husband-to-be was chosen by the princess because of his good looks. But on the first day of their marriage, he learned the princess was already pregnant, obviously not by her new husband. This enraged the emperor, who ordered the death of his daughter. Afterwards, as compensation, the emperor ordered his second daughter to marry the same man. The groom returned to his hometown, Shanghai, and built this mansion in memory of his two royal wives.

This story has its own "evidence" even today - the people who live in the mansion still claim to be descendants of the legendary bridegroom. While the building remains, an ancient story lives on in a modern metropolis. Xiao Xu