Getaway for creative vision
By Fei Lai |
February 23, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LI' an Exhibition Industrial Park in Minhang District is tucked away from the noise and bustle of the city, providing a creative hideaway where professionals can work on emerging technologies and new ideas for the future.
Established two years ago in Xinzhuang Town, the park has now become a leading player in combining technology and art in the creative exhibition industry in China.
In conjunction with the Jiefang Daily Group, Wenxin Press Media Group and Shanghai Century Publishing Group, the park is now listed as one of the "four giants" of the cultural media industry in Minhang.
The 35,000-square-meter park on Xinfu Road is a model of modern design, with a nine-story main building flanked by two smaller sister buildings.
It now houses 35 companies, most of them in the creative exhibition industry and has attracted more than 800 professionals in fields such as display planning, advertising, multimedia, video production, graphic design and, software development.
See a success
So far, the park has been a success.
"I didn't expect the park to undergo such a fast development within just two years," said Lu Xiufang, president of Li' an Industrial Co. There is pride in her voice when she talks about the park.
In 2009, through a land-lease deal, the company acquired the construction site from the local government. What Lu feared most at the start was a lack of interest by companies.
"It would have been hard for me to face local villagers who gave us the land and who hoped it would enhance their local economy," Lu said. "The venue is far away from downtown, which presents a challenge."
Still, she was careful to vet applicants, seeking those that would enhance the concept of the park and rejecting those with little to offer.
"I could attribute the success we have had to the negotiations that failed," said Lu. "What really impresses me is the number of tenants from the creative industry who developed their businesses from inspiration provided by the Shanghai World Expo in 2010."
She said it has been rewarding to watch those entrepreneurs grow and expand.
One example is the Foremost Group, a pioneer in the Chinese exhibition industry. It was engaged in planning, design, engineering and management of different pavilions at Expo.
The group started business in conjunction with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and later expanded to projects all over the country.
"People from the culture and creative industry are different from other private business people," Lu said. "They are educated and have vision."
Lu started promotion for the park on a tight budget. She described it as "hawking," yet her forthrightness was rewarded when the Foremost Group decided to settle in the park. That move has helped attract other top-flight companies.
The park's business model guarantees every company in its grounds can perform its own functions while integrating with others.
"In the past, I had to drive one or two hours to a supplier," said Bian Weiyong, sales manager of Shanghai Lefedv Co, "But nowadays, it only takes me five minutes to go to upper floors."
The park has served as a platform for numerous national projects involving science and technology museums, planning libraries, industry halls and theme parks.
Last year alone, companies in the park reported projects valued at more than 200 million yuan (US$30.11 million), contributing tax revenue of more than 10 million yuan. This year, those revenues are expected to increase to more than 20 million yuan.
Established two years ago in Xinzhuang Town, the park has now become a leading player in combining technology and art in the creative exhibition industry in China.
In conjunction with the Jiefang Daily Group, Wenxin Press Media Group and Shanghai Century Publishing Group, the park is now listed as one of the "four giants" of the cultural media industry in Minhang.
The 35,000-square-meter park on Xinfu Road is a model of modern design, with a nine-story main building flanked by two smaller sister buildings.
It now houses 35 companies, most of them in the creative exhibition industry and has attracted more than 800 professionals in fields such as display planning, advertising, multimedia, video production, graphic design and, software development.
See a success
So far, the park has been a success.
"I didn't expect the park to undergo such a fast development within just two years," said Lu Xiufang, president of Li' an Industrial Co. There is pride in her voice when she talks about the park.
In 2009, through a land-lease deal, the company acquired the construction site from the local government. What Lu feared most at the start was a lack of interest by companies.
"It would have been hard for me to face local villagers who gave us the land and who hoped it would enhance their local economy," Lu said. "The venue is far away from downtown, which presents a challenge."
Still, she was careful to vet applicants, seeking those that would enhance the concept of the park and rejecting those with little to offer.
"I could attribute the success we have had to the negotiations that failed," said Lu. "What really impresses me is the number of tenants from the creative industry who developed their businesses from inspiration provided by the Shanghai World Expo in 2010."
She said it has been rewarding to watch those entrepreneurs grow and expand.
One example is the Foremost Group, a pioneer in the Chinese exhibition industry. It was engaged in planning, design, engineering and management of different pavilions at Expo.
The group started business in conjunction with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and later expanded to projects all over the country.
"People from the culture and creative industry are different from other private business people," Lu said. "They are educated and have vision."
Lu started promotion for the park on a tight budget. She described it as "hawking," yet her forthrightness was rewarded when the Foremost Group decided to settle in the park. That move has helped attract other top-flight companies.
The park's business model guarantees every company in its grounds can perform its own functions while integrating with others.
"In the past, I had to drive one or two hours to a supplier," said Bian Weiyong, sales manager of Shanghai Lefedv Co, "But nowadays, it only takes me five minutes to go to upper floors."
The park has served as a platform for numerous national projects involving science and technology museums, planning libraries, industry halls and theme parks.
Last year alone, companies in the park reported projects valued at more than 200 million yuan (US$30.11 million), contributing tax revenue of more than 10 million yuan. This year, those revenues are expected to increase to more than 20 million yuan.
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