LEGO Set 21039 Shanghai: Pieces, Year, Figures

Specifications

Set number	21039
Release year	2018
Piece count	597
Minifigures	0
Theme	Architecture
Subtheme	Skylines
Building instructions	Download the instructions on lego.com

Where to buy set 21039

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LEGO Architecture 21039 Shanghai depicts the city skyline of Shanghai within the Skylines line of the Architecture theme.

Set 21039 Shanghai belongs to LEGO Architecture, specifically the Skylines line. It presents a compact interpretation of an urban profile, designed as a display model rather than a play scene built around characters or a story.

The build uses 597 pieces and follows the reduced scale associated with Skylines models. The focus is on the arrangement of forms, the contrast between different heights and the recognizable effect of a condensed city silhouette.

This set is best suited to Architecture fans, LEGO skyline collectors and builders looking for a display piece with a clear urban subject. Within the theme, it sits among city based models and is better understood as a decorative architectural composition than as an action oriented set.

Inventory of set 21039

The inventory of set 21039 lists 597 pieces, spare parts excluded: 144 different lots (one shape in one color) for 98 part shapes. The box also contains 18 spare parts, for small elements that are easy to lose.

Colors of set 21039

Main color: medium blue, making up 20% of the parts, followed by light bluish gray (19%) and tan (18%).

Color	Parts	Share
Medium Blue	121	20%
Light Bluish Gray	112	19%
Tan	108	18%
Dark Bluish Gray	92	15%
Black	64	11%
White	37	6.2%
Trans-Light Blue	14	2.3%
Red	13	2.2%
Green	12	2%
Yellow	8	1.3%
Other colors (5)	16	2.7%

Part types

Type	Parts	Share
Plates Special	148	25%
Plates	96	16%
Tiles	76	13%
Technic Beams	58	9.7%
Plates Round Curved and Dishes	48	8%
Tiles Special	33	5.5%

Most common parts in set 21039

Part	Color	Quantity
Plate Special 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove and Inside Stud Holder (Jumper) 15573	Medium Blue	62
Technic Beam 3 x 3 L-Shape with Quarter Ellipse Thin 32249	Dark Bluish Gray	50
Plate Special 1 x 3 with 2 Studs with Groove and Inside Stud Holder (Jumper) 34103	Medium Blue	32
Brick Round 1 x 1 Open Stud 3062b	Tan	25
Tile Special 1 x 2 Grille with Bottom Groove 2412b	White	20
Plate Round 1 x 1 with Solid Stud 6141	Tan	17
Tile 1 x 4 with Groove 2431	Trans-Light Blue	11
Plate Round 1 x 1 with Solid Stud 6141	Red	9
Tile Special 1 x 2 Grille with Bottom Groove 2412b	Tan	8
Brick Special 1 x 2 with Grille 2877	Tan	8

97 of the 98 part shapes in this set have their own page on Setopedia, with their colors, element numbers and the other sets that use them. See all LEGO parts

No part in set 21039 is exclusive: each one is found in at least one other set, which makes replacing a lost element easier.

Rebuilding set 21039 from another set

Share of the parts of set 21039 found in each of these similarly sized sets, counting shape, colour and quantity:

Set	Found	Parts	Release year
21068 Shanghai	97%	597	2025

Set 21068 Shanghai supplies 97% of them: enough to build a good part of the model before filling in the rest piece by piece.

Size of set 21039 within its line

With 597 pieces, set 21039 ranks #31 out of 64 Architecture sets in our database, which have an average of 846 parts. Among the 457 sets released in 2018, it ranks #72.

The set in 3D

Spin the official model of the set, brick by brick.

Load the 3D model

3D model: Orion Pobursky, LDraw.org Official Model Repository (CCAL 2.0 licence)

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces does LEGO set 21039 Shanghai have?

LEGO set 21039 Shanghai has 597 pieces. It was released in 2018 as part of the Architecture theme.

What year was LEGO set 21039 released?

Set 21039 Shanghai was released in 2018 and belongs to the Architecture theme.

Which minifigures are included in set 21039?

LEGO set 21039 Shanghai does not include any minifigures.

Where can I find the building instructions for set 21039?

The instructions for LEGO set 21039 Shanghai can be downloaded free as a PDF from the official lego.com website, under “Building Instructions”, by entering the number 21039.

What is the main color of LEGO set 21039?

Medium blue, with 121 out of 597 pieces, or 20%. Next come light bluish gray (19%) and tan (18%).

How many different parts does set 21039 contain?

Set 21039 has 144 different lots (one shape in one color), covering 98 part shapes. Most common part: Plate Special 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove and Inside Stud Holder (Jumper) in medium blue, with 62 copies.

Does LEGO set 21039 contain any exclusive parts?

No: every one of its parts is found in at least one other set.

Which similarly sized set contains the most parts from set 21039?

Set 21068 Shanghai, released in 2025: it supplies 97%, counting shapes, colors and quantities.

Is Shanghai part of the LEGO Architecture Skylines line?

Yes. Set 21039 Shanghai is classified under Architecture, in the Skylines line.