Stair-racers enjoy lofty view of revamped road
Foreign racers pose ahead of a stair-climbing event in Shanghai Science Hall on Nanchang Road.
A stair-climbing competition was held in Shanghai Science Hall, located along the historic Nanchang Road, on Wednesday. The event was intended to help local children with autism and also give participants a glimpse of revamping work on the road.
Over 150 residents and employees living or working around the road, where many cultural figures and reformists once lived, raced up the hall's 17 stories.
Some autistic children took part in the stair-climbing, and also sold their artworks to participants in a charity bazaar on the top floor of the building. The proceeds were donated to the Huangpu branch of the Shanghai Charity Foundation.
Alfred Cullen from Australia, a teacher at the local Lucton Nursery School, said he joined the event to be part of the local community and feel the spirit of the neighborhood.
Cullen, who has been in Shanghai for one-and-a-half years, said the historic road attracted him with its beautiful buildings, trees and numerous dining options.
Sonali Patel from the United Kingdom said she was excited to take part in the race.
“An increasing number of local people can speak English and talk to me on street, which makes me happy,” Patel said.
A runner crosses the finish-line at a stair-climbing event in Shanghai Science Hall.
Racers take part in a stair-climbing event in Shanghai Science Hall.
Hosted by the Ruijin Road No.2 Subdistrict, the event aims to showcase improvements to the Nanchang Road after the year-long facelift campaign, said Xu Shujie, Party secretary of the area.
The 1.7-kilometer road, formerly called Route Dollfus and Route Vallon, stretches between Huangpu and Xuhui districts. The boulevard is flanked by plane trees and villas that were once home to figures such as renowned painter Lin Fengmian (1900-1991).
Some representatives to the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China also lived in these residences. The site of the congress is about 10 minutes’ walk away.
The subdistrict has launched a new round of renovation projects to help restore the historical ambiance of the area, while also improving elderly residents’ living conditions.
The area's buildings, including garden villas and lane-style townhouses, suffered from illegal structures, group renting, illegal parking and security issues. The renovation work has restored the appearance, roofs and indoor public areas of the neighborhood and put an end to illegal construction and group rentals.
The 1.7-kilometer Nanchang Road features many historical villas where cultural figures and reformists once lived.
