Explore the historical buildings President Xi visited on his tour to Yangpu Waterfront
Yangpu Waterfront has suddenly become the hottest attraction in Shanghai since President Xi Jinping visited the 2.8-kilometer riverside area during the second China International Import Expo.
The scenic Yangpu Waterfront sidewalks, which stretch 45 kilometers on the banks of the Huangpu River between the Yangpu and Xupu bridges, boasts beautiful, historical, century-old factories and warehouse buildings.
After the creative transformation, the area turned into a place showcasing the development of industry over the past 100 years in Shanghai and China.
Some of the iconic buildings were factories established by Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), who took a leading role in China’s Self-Strengthening Movement, which was a reform operation intended to make China a modern nation with a focus on military strength and industry.
Visitors can take photos of the various building exterior styles, explore the interior’s conversion into museums and art galleries and experience the old stories behind the buildings.
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The walkway between the main gate on Yangshupu Road and the waterfront used to be one of the city’s oldest shipyards. It was established by Li Hongzhang, a leading Chinese statesman of the 19th century, who made strenuous efforts to modernize his country. The China Merchants Steamship Navigation Company was founded in 1872, and was renamed the Shanghai shipbuilding and repair facility in 1951.
Now, the area of the old shipyard has been turned into the Fabrication Plaza, offering jogging and walking paths to the public. The stained and mottled ground, old industrial track, boarding ladder and tower crane are all retained in the area, showing the history of the shipyard 100 years ago.
Old black-and-white images of the old shipyard are on the wall beside the walkway. It also includes the launch of China’s first exported 10,000-ton ship “Shaoxing” and the birth of China’s first 2,000-horsepower low-speed diesel engine.
By the riverside visitors can witness the history of the shipyard printed on copper plates situated in the ground. It is a great scene to take photos.