Waterside wonders

Waibaidu Bridge

The Waibaidu Bridge, also known as the Garden Bridge, is located at the confluence of Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River. Built in 1908, the camelback allsteel bridge was the first of its kind at the time, and has since appeared in numerous postcards and movies, featuring Broadway Mansions on one side, the Bund on the other and the skyscrapers of the Lujiazui Financial Area in the background. It is regarded as a landmark in Shanghai.

Former Shanghai Chamber of Commerce

Located at 470 North Suzhou Creek Road in Jin’an district, this building features a huge Roman-style arch and a three-story redbrick main building with a conference room that can accommodate up to 800 people. This building was the gathering place for influential businesspeople for about two decades before it was turned into a school and factory. After seven years of restoration, the building was open again in 2018 and is now part of the Bvlgari Hotel.

Sihang Warehouse

Also known as the Joint Trust Warehouse, this building is known for its historic role in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (19311945). During the war in 1937, this was where around 400 Chinese soldiers, known as the Eight Hundred Heroes, waged a fierce battle against Japanese invaders. Part of the building has since 2015 served as a memorial for the battle. One section of its walls has been restored to look like it has been damaged by bullets and bombs.

M50 Creative Park

Tucked away in an old industrial area along Suzhou Creek, this structure used to house a cotton mill and a textile factory between the 1920s and 1990s. When the factory was shut down, the site was turned into a space for the arts in 2000. Today, the space is home to a thriving contemporary artist community, which is comparable to the 798 art zone in Beijing. People can visit established galleries, including ShanghART and small studios showcasing works by emerging artists. The name of the park is short for its address, 50 Moganshan Road.

Mengqing Garden

This garden, which was built for environmental education, uses part of the former Shanghai Union Brewery as a museum to showcase the decadelong project that addressed the pollution of Suzhou Creek. In the park, water bodyrestoration technologies, including natural energy aeration, microbial treatment and aquatic plant purification, are demonstrated to visitors. Mengqing in Chinese means “the dream for lucidity”.

East China University of Political Science and Law

The downtown campus of the East China University of Political Science and Law sits in the historical complex of St. John’s University, which was founded in 1879 by US missionaries and regarded as one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. The campus is home to many well-preserved historical buildings that incorporate Chinese and Western architectural elements.

PHOTOS BY XING YI AND XU XIAOMIN / CHINA DAILY