It has a steel retractable roof which opens and closes in a pinwheel or spiral manner, with eight sliding petal-shaped pieces (moved in 8 minutes) resembling a blooming magnolia (Shanghai's official city flower).

The center court is covered by a steel roof with eight petal-shaped pieces (each petal weighs two tons) which resemble a magnolia, Shanghai's city flower.

[3] The winning bid was submitted by Japanese architect Mitsuru Senda and his company Environment Design Institute (EDI), an architectural and landscape firm specializing in children's environments including schools, museums, hospitals, sports facilities, parks, play structures, daycare centers, and housing.

[3] EDI had designed sports stadiums in Japan, including the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center and the Tokoname Municipal Gymnasium.

Mr. Senda, a former President and now honorary member of the Architectural Institute of Japan, established EDI in 1968 with a design philosophy to adapt comprehensive planning along with the layout of the environment.