Seven jewels in city’s cultural crown pull in the crowd
Shanghai has been the cradle of China’s industrialization since the 1800s, and since much of the manufacturing mission has been accomplished, a lot of industrial legacy has been left to us. These old factories, shipyards and workshops date from the mid-1800s to the 1980s and are spread over the city, with diverse architectural structures and styles. Many have been refurbished and turned into shopping, lifestyle and art centers. Here are some of them:
M50
Arguably Shanghai’s most recognized creative park used to be the home of Shanghai Chunming Textile Factory. M50 is named after its location, at 50 Moganshan Road. It covers 2.3 hectares. A few contemporary artists and galleries began to rent the abandoned factory workshops in 2000, because the floor height allowed them to work with large-scale artworks. Chunming Textile changed its name to M50 Cultural and Creative Development Co in 2011.
Tianzifang
This is an old neighborhood in Lane 210 Taikang Road in downtown Shanghai. The oldest buildings date back to the 1930s, and a number of small community factories and warehouses operated here in the 1960 and 70s. Artists led by Chen Yifei and Deke Erh began to move into the community in 1998. It has now developed into a major tourist attraction where boutique shops and galleries and old-style Shanghai homes sit side by side. There is also a wet market.
1933 Old Millfun
The complex at 611 Liyang Road, Hongkou district, consists of five poured-concrete structures, in art deco style. Built in the 1930s, it once housed the Shanghai Municipal Council Slaughterhouse, at that time the largest slaughterhouse in the city. The buildings were renovated in 1998. It is now a lifestyle center with boutique shops, cafeteria and restaurants, as well as a theater and function hall for weddings and other events.
Bridge 8
At No 8-10 Jianguo Road Middle in Luwan district, Bridge 8 is the home of house designers and creative studios. The 12,000 square meter compound used to be the home of Shanghai Automobile brake factory, which underwent reconstruction in 2003. Overpasses were added between the eight factory buildings. Since then more than 80 overseas companies have moved in, including architects and film studios, fashion designer houses, and other creative institutions.
Shanghai Beer Brewery
The factory was designed by Laszlo Hudec (1893-1958), a Hungarian architect active in Shanghai from 1918 to 1945. He created a series of landmark buildings in the city, often in art deco style. Shanghai Beer Brewery, built in 1932, was one of the few industrial buildings among his creations. Most of the factory structures were dismantled except for the bottling workshop and power station. These buildings sit in Mengqingyuan Park by Suzhou Creek at 66 Yichang Road and are now home of the exhibition center showcasing the history and evolution of the creek.
Power Station of Art
Known as the first State-run museum of contemporary art in China, this used to be Nanshi Power Plant. The building, on the west bank of the Huangpu River at 200 Huayuangang Road, was the Pavilion of the Future during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The architecture features a 165meter chimney and an internal height of 27 meters. It has been home to the Shanghai Biennale since 2012.
Hong Fang
The compound at 570-588 Huaihai Road West was Shanghai Urban Sculpture Center from 2004. It has been closed down for a new revamp to become a creative complex that combines art, commerce and office facilities. The compound was built in the 1950s as home to the No10 Shanghai Steel Plant.