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.
Just follow iDEALShanghai to explore the must-see places President Xi visited at the Yangpu Waterfront!
Fabrication Plaza
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.
Fiona Li, iDEALShanghai reporter, walks along the Yangpu Waterfront.
A tourist sign at the Fabrication Plaza shows different locations of Yangpu Waterfront scenic spots.
A green area along the Yangpu Waterfront
Yangshupu Waterworks
On the way to the waterfront from Yangshupu Road, an English-style castle with a chimney is in the spotlight.
It was Shanghai’s first waterworks established by Li Hongzhang in 1883. The building, constructed by British merchants with distinctive architectural features, is well-preserved and rarely seen in China.
It is worth mentioning that the waterworks is still in use. It provides domestic and industrial water use for about two million Shanghai residents living in Yangpu, Hongkou and Putuo districts.
The riverside walkway crossing the century-old waterworks has a 550-meter-long steel and wood trestle bridge suspended above the water. It is also used as a trash rack in the waterworks.
To ensure safety, electronic fences and explosion-proof glass have been installed on the outer wall, so the waterworks are completely separated from tourists walking on the trestle bridge.
During President Xi’s visit to Yangshupu Waterworks on November 2, the trestle boasted a red slogan of “I love Shanghai” in front of the waterworks, attracting tourists and shutterbugs.
The Yangshupu Waterworks, an English-style castle-like building established in 1883, is still in use.
A cubic metal and glass structure around the Yangshupu Waterworks
Two industrial tanks are still well preserved.
The Green Hill
Opened to the public a month ago, the Green Hill is believed to be the most popular place to take photos at Yangpu Riverside.
As a former tobacco warehouse, the 60-meter-wide and 250-meter-long building used to be an obstacle on the riverside road. The architect removed the outer wall of the warehouse, creating layers of scattered platform extending to the Huangpu River. Reeds and dogtail grass were planted on each floor to fill the building with vitality.
The best view is when you step onto the fifth floor semicircular skywalk — a panorama of the river unfolds before your eyes. It’s also a perfect spot to take photos of Yangpu Bridge.
In addition to the building, the space inside is going to be designed into several art museums.
Before November 30, seven exhibitions will be open to the public as a part of Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. The highlight is an exhibition on the second floor focussing on the Belt and Road initiative.
The Green Hill, a former tobacco warehouse, is a new tourist attraction at Yangpu Waterfront.
The space inside the Green hill includes several art museums which will be open to the public soon.
Pink Muhlygrass
Now is pink muhlygrass season. In front of the Green Hill there is a huge area of pink muhlygrass, which has attracted a multitude of visitors to witness its unusual early-winter colors.
The hedge-like plant, about 30 to 90 centimeters tall, has been planted in some scenic spots in Shanghai. Its feathery, cloud-like flowers generally turn purple-pink from mid-September to mid-November in China.
Inside the pink muhlygrass area you can get the best view of Yangpu Bridge with your camera.
Follow Shirlene Gu (left) and Fiona Li to see pink muhlygrass!
Now is the season of the pink muhlygrass.
Good to know before you go:
1.If you plan to go Huangpu bank with the family, be prepared that the overall length is 45km. But don’t worry there are lifts to the top of the Green Hill and most attractions. Furthermore, the path is bike friendly.
2.It is a public space where local residents play badminton, practice trumpet and take a stroll. Meanwhile, the area is becoming an increasingly popular destination for the public after President Xi’s visit during the CIIE. So you may find yourself trapped in a crowd, especially during the day. But the trip will be worth it and the night view of the Huangpu coastline is sparkling and fascinating.
