In the Huangpu River within Shanghai's urban area, a small island resembles a fully drawn bow, with the river flowing along its back—this is Fuxing Island. Recently, the 2025 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season was exhibited in the Shipyard Park area (the former site of the Zhonghua Shipyard), showcasing how Fuxing Island, a small island with a century of industrial heritage, has embarked on a path of urban spatial reshaping. The art season's theme is "Quantum City," aiming to use art and design to tell a story of visions for the future city.
Fuxing Island, covering an area of approximately 1.31 square kilometers, was once home to the Hudong Shipyard, witnessing the rise and prosperity of modern Chinese national industry. Now, after more than a decade of being idle, the island has completed its industrial heritage transformation and reopened to the public after renovation and reconstruction.
The Paper recently interviewed Fu Weidong, Gao Changjun, and Wang Mingying, who witnessed the transformation of Fuxing Island. Fu Weidong was once an electrician at the shipyard, and later worked as a hotel waiter, restaurant lobby manager, and nightclub DJ. Now, he has returned to the island and told The Paper about his memories of the shipyard and the past.
Gao Changjun is the chief curator of the 2025 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season and the executive curator of the previous season (2023). He told The Paper about the features and highlights of this exhibition.
Wang Mingying is the deputy director of the Urban Renewal and Public Space Promotion Center of the Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Institute. She told the story behind the selection of Fuxing Island as the location for the art festival, as well as the relevant future plans for the island.
[Summary]
00:00:50 Wang Mingying: A Brief Discussion on the History of Fuxing Island
00:01:40 Fu Weidong: Memories of Fuxing Island and the Shipyard
00:09:20 Fu Weidong: My feelings about returning to Fuxing Island after more than 20 years
00:10:00 Wang Mingying: Why was Fuxing Island chosen as the location for the Shanghai Urban Space Art Festival?
00:12:35 Wang Mingying: How can Fuxing Island be connected with Binjiang?
00:14:05 Gao Changjun: Compared with previous years, the characteristics of this year's Urban Space Art Festival
00:18:35 Gao Changjun: How to tell the public about the art festival theme "Quantum City"
00:19:48 Gao Changjun: Case Studies of Works Reflecting the Theme of "Quantum Cities"
00:22:07 Gao Changjun: The Role of Public Art in Riverside Spaces
00:23:23 Fu Weidong: How do you view the shipyard ruins that have been renovated and now possess an artistic flair?
00:25:45 Fu Weidong: My favorite part of the art renovation
00:26:53 Wang Mingying: The Significance of the Art Festival for Fuxing Island
00:28:11 Gao Changjun: The Significance of Building Fuxing Island for Urban Development
00:29:54 Wang Mingying: Discussing the Future Planning of Fuxing Island
