100 years of change in The New Factories
Print Edition
Today, The New Factories is a popular destination among local trendsetters with foreign companies making up nearly a third of its occupants. But a century ago, the triangle-shaped area in northwest Jing’an was a densely populated community.
Back in the 1920s, 20,000 square meters of structures were alleged to have stood on the 11,300 square meters of land, bounded by Ferry Road (today’s Xikang Road), Singapore Road (today’s Yuyao Road) and Haifang Road.
At that time, transportation primarily took place on Suzhou Creek and its tributaries, giving rise to booming riverside communities. Rows of residential buildings, stores, factories and warehouses sprang up near The New Factories’ present location.
However, after reform and opening-up began 40 years ago, the old-fashioned factories either went bankrupt or morphed into other things. One after another, they vacated the area, leaving spacious and rundown workshops.
Consequently, Jing’an officials injected new blood into the area giving it a new lease on life. In 2005, old factories, theaters and schools were converted to offices, studios and bars, making it a new cultural landmark.
Local history is now told at The New Factories in a free three-month exhibition that runs until October 21. Texts, photos and old items such as local maps, biscuit boxes made by local factories and tickets to local theaters are displayed.
“It reminds me of my childhood,” said a senior resident surnamed Wang who lives nearby. “It chronicles local development.”
“Previously, it was just a complex of small factories dotted in alleyways,” said renowned Shanghai historian Xue Liyong. “Later, some factories died and some survived and grew stronger. It tells the history of the city’s industrial development in modern times.”
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