Abstract: A cultural international metropolis covers two levels of meaning: on the one hand, it has the size, the position and function of what an international metropolis has, spatially having the ability of wide communication, temporally keeping the same rhythm as other international metropolis, and obtaining the international reputation between the international visual field and global coordinate; on the other hand, it aims at its cultural prosperity. The construction of Shanghai cultural international metropolis depends on establishing such core values as the metropolitan cultural awakening and consciousness.

Key words: metropolis culture, connotation construction, cultural international metropolis