CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, January 22, 2021 | 17 LIFE SHANGHAI he completion of a 42-kilome- akin to tracing the history of the city’s ter waterfront pedestrian emerging national industry in the path along Suzhou Creek in early 20th century. Shanghai in December Here, the 6.3-km path links a dozen Tmarked another milestone in the industrial-heritage structures, includ- ambitious redevelopment project of ing the art-deco building that housed the banks of the Huangpu River and the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Suzhou Creek in the city. Reviving the Joint Trust Warehouse, which was The aim of the “River and Creek” known as Sihang Warehouse, the site project, which started five years ago, of a critical battle in the War of Resist- involves adding more greenery to the ance Against Japanese Aggression landscape, renovating historical (1931-45), and the Fuxin Flour Mill, buildings and industrial structures, which was once the biggest flour mill tearing down walls and constructing in China. new bridges to connect public spaces the riverside Artworks, such as paintings of new along the river. and old Shanghai and installation pie- Starting from the Linkong Musical ces, have also been introduced to Park at the intersection of Suzhou The banks of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek are being breathe new life into the area. Creek and the city’s west outer ring Zhong Lyu, chief designer of the road, the newly connected riverside transformed from dull industrial zones into colorful leisure areas, Jing’an section, says that much atten- path extends to the Waibaidu Bridge tion was paid to details, such as the at the north end of the Bund, where Xing Yi reports in Shanghai. decorations and colors of the para- the creek meets the Huangpu River. pets, pathways and the surrounding Several parts of the riverside path, areas, so that the new and the old which were built before the project would blend harmoniously with one commenced, have been renovated another. and expanded, alleviating the pres- In Putuo district, which accounts sure caused by high-density develop- for half of the redevelopment project, ment in the downtown area. connecting the pathways involved “Before the project was launched, a much negotiation and communica- total of 15.3 kilometers and 63 spots tion with companies, institutions along the creek were blocked by histor- and local residents. ical buildings, warehouses, residential Wang Zhedong, who lives in Penin- quarters and other human-made sula Garden, formerly a closed resi- obstacles,” says Zhu Jianhao, executive dential neighborhood beside the deputy director of the project, who is creek in Putuo, says he was worried also the deputy director of the munici- about the opening up of the creek pal housing and urban-rural develop- banks in the community due to safety ment commission. concerns. “The project has been supported by “But the local government showed district governments, companies and us the plan and made adjustments residents along the river because the according to our feedback, and when building of the pathway involved the the renovation project was done, I opening of many internal spaces.” found the riverside had become more Because of these developments, beautiful,” he says. people can now perform various activ- “At the beginning, we residents ities along the path, such as jogging, thought that we’d lose some privacy dancing, playing music and skate- with the opening up of the communi- boarding. ty, but in the end we feel that the “The waterfront area of the creek project has actually given us more will become a ‘backyard garden’ of space. We now have a much longer riv- local citizens, while the Huangpu Riv- erside to stroll and relax along,” Wang er waterfront serves as a ‘reception says. room’,” says Zhu. In Putuo, around 14 residential “We will strive to turn the riverside neighborhoods and eight institu- from an ‘industrial rust belt’ into a tions and companies, such as the vibrant urban public space for lei- East China University of Political Sci- sure.” ence and Law, Shanghai Banknote Chen Zhiyong, owner of a small Printing Co and the M50 Creative store near the creek, says the new path Park, have agreed to take down their bears a stark contrast to its former concrete walls and open their inter- self. Three years ago, the area had nal spaces to provide the public nothing but a narrow pedestrian side- access to the riverside. walk, a parking lot, a small office “The project could not have com- building and a water-quality monitor- pleted without the understanding ing facility. and cooperation for the opening of “This place used to be a wasteland the pathway,” says Zhang Yuxin, dep- full of deserted shared bikes,” he says, uty governor of the district. referring to a park by the bridge of He Chunming, who has lived near Sichuan North Road where he often the river most of his life, says he used brings his children to play today. to be able to swim in the creek when “Now, it has become this beautiful he was a child, but this stopped when green area with very good facilities, the water became severely polluted in such as benches and scenic platforms.” the 1980s. According to Wang Lin, chief A huge cleanup project was designer of the 900-meter waterfront launched in 1996 and billions of yuan section at Suzhou Creek in Hongkou were channeled into a project that district, the purpose of the redevelop- involved building sewage pipes and ment project is to “give the riverside wastewater-treatment facilities. back to the people”. The fourth phase of the comprehen- For his section of the creek, the sive cleanup project was launched in width of the sidewalk was expanded 2018 with the aim of eliminating to up to 5 meters and the previous water rated below Grade 5, the lowest parking lot was turned into a 460- Residents enjoy leisure along Suzhou Creek’s recently renovated banks. Shanghai’s five­year “River and Creek” project has of the five-tiered national standards, square-meter elevated platform for turned the banks of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek into urban-leisure spaces. from Suzhou Creek by 2021. sightseeing. PHOTOS BY GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY AND PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY “In the past five years, the water With the iconic skyline of Shang- has gradually become clear again and hai’s Lujiazui business district in the the stench has disappeared,” says the background, this area will be among 66-year-old. “There are now many the best spots in the city to take pho- small parks along the new pathway, tos, Wang says. We will strive to turn the riverside from an ‘industrial rust belt’ and it has made our mother river Today, following the changes that pretty again.” have taken place because of the rede- into a vibrant urban public space for leisure.” velopment project, wandering along Contact the writer at executive deputy director of the project the waterfront in Jing’an district is Zhu Jianhao, [email protected] Waterside wonders PHOTOS BY XING YI AND XU XIAOMIN / CHINA DAILY Waibaidu Bridge Former Shanghai Chamber Sihang Warehouse M50 Creative Park Mengqing Garden East China University of of Commerce Political Science and Law The Waibaidu Bridge, also known as Also known as the Joint Trust Ware- Tucked away in an old industrial area This garden, which was built for envi- the Garden Bridge, is located at the con- Located at 470 North Suzhou Creek house, this building is known for its his- along Suzhou Creek, this structure used ronmental education, uses part of the The downtown campus of the East fluence of Suzhou Creek and the Huang- Road in Jin’an district, this building fea- toric role in the War of Resistance to house a cotton mill and a textile facto- former Shanghai Union Brewery as a China University of Political Science pu River. Built in 1908, the camelback all- tures a huge Roman-style arch and a Against Japanese Aggression (1931- ry between the 1920s and 1990s. When museum to showcase the decadelong and Law sits in the historical complex of steel bridge was the first of its kind at the three-story redbrick main building with a 1945). During the war in 1937, this was the factory was shut down, the site was project that addressed the pollution of St. John’s University, which was found- time, and has since appeared in numer- conference room that can accommodate where around 400 Chinese soldiers, turned into a space for the arts in 2000. Suzhou Creek. In the park, water body- ed in 1879 by US missionaries and ous postcards and movies, featuring up to 800 people. This building was the known as the Eight Hundred Heroes, Today, the space is home to a thriving restoration technologies, including natu- regarded as one of the oldest and most Broadway Mansions on one side, the gathering place for influential business- waged a fierce battle against Japanese contemporary artist community, which ral energy aeration, microbial treatment prestigious universities in China. The Bund on the other and the skyscrapers people for about two decades before it invaders. Part of the building has since is comparable to the 798 art zone in Bei- and aquatic plant purification, are dem- campus is home to many well-pre- of the Lujiazui Financial Area in the back- was turned into a school and factory. Aft- 2015 served as a memorial for the battle. jing. People can visit established galler- onstrated to visitors. Mengqing in Chi- served historical buildings that incorpo- ground. It is regarded as a landmark in er seven years of restoration, the build- One section of its walls has been ies, including ShanghART and small nese means “the dream for lucidity”.