What age is the Shanghai recommended for?

This set is recommended for ages 12+.

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🏛 Skylines

Set #21039

Shanghai

The Shanghai Skyline set is a beautiful tribute to a vibrant and architecturally diverse city.

Before you buy

Who it's for: Ages 12+ · Intermediate build Ideal for teens and adults interested in architecture and cityscapes.
Build: 597 pieces · about 4.5 hours Build time is an estimate.
Price: $59.99 list price · 10.0¢ per piece
Availability: Retired at LEGO

★★★★☆ 4.2 community rating from 238 ratings

Fans appreciate the accurate representation of Shanghai's iconic skyline and the engaging building experience. Some reviewers mention that the baseplate feels a bit flimsy and that the color palette is somewhat muted compared to the real city.

$59.99

Best Price

$53.99

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📝 Our Take

AI-assisted editorial summary, grounded in our LEGO database and public community discussions. How we use AI

The Shanghai Skyline set is a beautiful tribute to a vibrant and architecturally diverse city. It perfectly captures the essence of Shanghai's blend of historical landmarks and modern skyscrapers, making it a visually appealing display piece.

This set is perfect for architecture enthusiasts and LEGO collectors who appreciate iconic cityscapes. The build is engaging without being overly complex, offering a satisfying experience and a stunning display model.

Skip this if you prefer sets with high playability or are on a tight budget. While visually impressive, it's primarily a display model. Consider the LEGO Architecture Paris Skyline 21044-1 for a different cityscape experience.

✨ New

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How does the Shanghai skyline set compare to other LEGO Architecture sets in terms of building techniques? What are the most challenging parts of building the Shanghai skyline? How does the retired status affect the value and collectibility of this set? What are some creative ways to display the Shanghai skyline set?

🧱 Building Experience

AI-assisted build estimate, grounded in our LEGO database and public community discussions. How we use AI

🧩

597

Pieces

⏱

4.5h

Estimated Build Time

📊

Intermediate

Difficulty

📏

25cm × 28cm × 7cm

Dimensions

Build Highlights:

Recreating the iconic Shanghai skyline with LEGO bricks.
Incorporating various building techniques to capture the unique architectural styles.
Featuring iconic landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center.
Creating a visually appealing and accurate representation of the city's skyline.

📈 Investment Analysis

AI-assisted investment analysis, grounded in our LEGO database and public community discussions. How we use AI

↑ Trending up since release

B+

Investment Grade

⏳ Retired

The LEGO Architecture Skyline series has generally performed well in the aftermarket, and the Shanghai set is no exception. Its retirement has already led to a significant price increase, and as a representation of a major global city, it's likely to continue appreciating. However, its relatively small piece count compared to other sets in the theme might limit its long-term growth potential. Consider that economic factors and shifting collector preferences can impact future values.

Not Financial Advice: Content is for educational purposes only. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Full disclaimer

⚖ Compare Similar Sets

Compared to other Skyline sets, Shanghai offers a unique blend of modern and traditional architecture. While sets like New York or Paris might be more recognizable to some, Shanghai stands out with its distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower and temple designs. Consider the size and architectural style preference when choosing between different Skyline sets.

📦 Parts Inventory

Official piece count: 597
Parts cataloged in this inventory: 98 unique parts, 597 pieces

Missing a piece? Check this set piece by piece, with look-alike colors flagged and element IDs for replacements.

Technic Pin Conne...

Part #: 10197 1× Dark Bluish Gray

Bar Holder with Clip

Part #: 11090 3× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile Special 2 x ...

Part #: 11203 2× Medium Blue

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 11211 1× Tan

Plate Round 6 x 6...

Part #: 11213 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Curved 2 x ...

Part #: 11477 1× Light Bluish Gray

Part #: 15573 6× Light Bluish Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 15573 62× Medium Blue

Technic Pin Conne...

Part #: 18654 3× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate Special Rou...

Part #: 18674 1× White

Tile Special 1 x ...

Part #: 2412b 20× White

Tile Special 1 x ...

Part #: 2412b 8× Tan

Plate 2 x 2 Corner

Part #: 2420 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Curved Inve...

Part #: 24201 2× Light Bluish Gray

Wedge Plate 2 x 2...

Part #: 24299 1× Light Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 11× Trans-Light Blue

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 3× Tan

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 6× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 2× Medium Blue

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 1× Black

Plate 2 x 12

Part #: 2445 3× Black

Tile Round 1 x 1 ...

Part #: 25269 4× Light Bluish Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 2540 4× Yellow

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 2540 1× Light Bluish Gray

Tile 2 x 3

Part #: 26603 4× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile 2 x 3

Part #: 26603 6× Medium Blue

Technic Disc 3 x 3

Part #: 2723 1× Light Bluish Gray

Tile 4 x 4 Curved...

Part #: 27507 4× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Pin with ...

Part #: 2780 3× Black

Tile 2 x 2 Curved...

Part #: 27925 2× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Pin Conne...

Part #: 27940 1× Dark Bluish Gray

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 2877 8× Tan

Lever Small Base ...

Part #: 298c02 1× Red

Brick 1 x 1

Part #: 3005 2× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 2× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 2× Black

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 1× Green

Plate 2 x 3

Part #: 3021 1× Tan

Plate 2 x 3

Part #: 3021 3× Black

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 2× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 2× Black

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 3× Tan

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 2× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 6× Tan

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 4× Green

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 3× Trans-Light Blue

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 1× Medium Blue

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 3× Black

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 7× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 1

Part #: 3024 8× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 1

Part #: 3024 7× Black

Plate 4 x 6

Part #: 3032 2× Green

Plate 2 x 8

Part #: 3034 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 30367c 1× Tan

Bar 4L (Lightsabe...

Part #: 30374 3× White

Plate Round Corne...

Part #: 30565 1× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate Round Corne...

Part #: 30565 1× Black

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 30586 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 3062b 25× Tan

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 8× Light Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 7× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 1× Trans-Brown

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 3× Medium Blue

Tile 1 x 1 with G...

Part #: 3070b 2× Tan

Tile 1 x 1 with G...

Part #: 3070b 3× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Pin 3/4

Part #: 32002 2× Tan

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 32028 4× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32034 1× White

Technic Axle 2 No...

Part #: 32062 1× Red

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 32064a 1× Black

Technic Bush 1/2 ...

Part #: 32123b 4× Yellow

Axle Hose, Soft 11L

Part #: 32199 2× Black

Axle Hose, Soft 16L

Part #: 32202 2× Black

Technic Beam 3 x ...

Part #: 32249 7× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Beam 3 x ...

Part #: 32249 50× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 34103 4× Light Bluish Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 34103 32× Medium Blue

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 35480 4× Tan

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 1× Green

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 2× Dark Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 4× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 3× Tan

Minifig Head [Pla...

Part #: 3626c 1× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 2× Black

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 4× Medium Blue

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 1× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 1× Green

Technic Axle 4

Part #: 3705 2× Black

Plate 1 x 4

Part #: 3710 3× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 4

Part #: 3710 3× Black

Part #: 3795 2× Black

Tile 1 x 8 with G...

Part #: 4162 1× Medium Blue

Tile 1 x 8 with G...

Part #: 4162 1× Black

Tile 1 x 8 with '...

Part #: 4162pr0058 1× Black

Technic Tooth 1 x...

Part #: 41669 2× Dark Bluish Gray

Wedge Plate 4 x 2...

Part #: 41769 1× Medium Blue

Wedge Plate 4 x 2...

Part #: 41770 1× Medium Blue

Plate 2 x 16

Part #: 4282 2× Medium Blue

Technic Axle Pin ...

Part #: 43093 2× Blue

Dish 3 x 3 Invert...

Part #: 43898 3× Light Bluish Gray

Dish 3 x 3 Invert...

Part #: 43898 5× Magenta

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4510 4× Light Bluish Gray

Technic Axle 3

Part #: 4519 1× Light Bluish Gray

Pneumatic T-Piece...

Part #: 4697b 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 4733 4× White

Dish 2 x 2 Invert...

Part #: 4740 2× Light Bluish Gray

Dish 2 x 2 Invert...

Part #: 4740 1× White

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 47905 4× Tan

Brick Sloped 30° ...

Part #: 54200 1× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Sloped 30° ...

Part #: 54200 3× Black

Technic Axle Conn...

Part #: 59443 3× Light Bluish Gray

Plate Round Corne...

Part #: 6003 1× Green

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 60478 2× Light Bluish Gray

Plate 1 x 12

Part #: 60479 1× Black

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 60483 1× Dark Bluish Gray

Brick Curved 2 x ...

Part #: 6081 1× Light Bluish Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 60897 4× Black

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 60897 6× Light Bluish Gray

Brick Curved 1 x ...

Part #: 6091 1× Light Bluish Gray

Part #: 62462 7× White

Tile 1 x 3

Part #: 63864 4× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 3

Part #: 63864 2× Light Bluish Gray

Bar 6L with Stop ...

Part #: 63965 2× Light Bluish Gray

Equipment Telesco...

Part #: 64644 2× Tan

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 6536 2× Light Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 6 with G...

Part #: 6636 3× Dark Bluish Gray

Tile 1 x 6 with G...

Part #: 6636 3× Black

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 85861 3× Black

Tile 2 x 4 with G...

Part #: 87079 4× Medium Blue

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 87609 2× Black

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 87609 2× Green

Bar 3L

Part #: 87994 7× Reddish Brown

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 92593 4× Black

Brick and Axle Se...

Part #: 96874 1× Orange

Tile Round 1 x 1

Part #: 98138 7× Tan

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 99206 3× Black

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 99206 1× Tan

Bracket 1 x 2 - 1...

Part #: 99780 1× Light Bluish Gray

The set features a good selection of Medium Blue, Light Bluish Gray, and Tan elements, useful for architectural MOCs. The variety of plates and tiles allows for detailed surface designs and intricate building techniques.