The current Fuxing Island Park Party and Mass Service Station was renovated from the historic building of Bailu in Fuxing Island Park. It is now open for check-in. There are many check-in spots in the service station. It’s a great place to go on weekends. For more details, see below.
The origin of Fuxing Island Park Party and Mass Service Station
Fuxing Island Park Party and Mass Service Station was renovated from the Bailu, a historical building designated as Shanghai’s fifth batch of excellent historical buildings. It was originally built in 1934 as a club for foreign sailors of the Junpu Bureau. After the liberation of New China, it was nationalized but remained closed to the public for various reasons. On June 27, 2021, Bailu underwent a stunning transformation, becoming one of the Yangpu Binjiang Party and Mass Service Stations.
Renovated to its original state
The renovation of Bailu followed the basic principle of “restoring the old as it was.” The architectural facade style remained unchanged, and the structural form was kept the same. This renovation included inspection and reinforcement of the internal structure of the building. It addressed issues such as building damage and roof leaks through roofing tile repairs, replacement of eaves gutters, and roof waterproofing additions, improving the building’s usability and safety performance. In terms of the exterior facade, the original color of the exterior wall paint was restored by scraping, and the original steel doors and windows were restored in the same color. The severely damaged roof of the octagonal pavilion was renovated with original-style roof tiles, and an aging treatment was applied to ensure a more coordinated and unified facade.
The interior space comprises four sections. Through the exhibition layout of “history, present and future,” it reflects the development path from “urban park” to “park city.”
The outdoor environment adheres to the design concepts of being green, open and shared. It uses modern and simple design techniques to effectively organize various landscape design elements, creating two garden spaces, east and west. The East Garden retains the old Osmanthus fragrans vine and the original large trees, one tall and one low, harmoniously complementing each other. New maple trees, azaleas and other plants are planted, and combination flowerbeds are set up to ensure that the garden has flowers in all seasons. The West Garden creates an overall modern oriental landscape charm. A transparent wall is used to borrow the scenery of the park. The garden layout adopts modern techniques, combining with traditional oriental garden aesthetics, creating a sense of boundless mountains and rivers within a limited space, effectively echoing the “park city” concept of the Party and Mass Service Station.
The changing identity of Bailu
Built in 1930, it was initially the Junpu Bureau Sports Association.
During the Songhu War, it was occupied by the Japanese army and used as the command center for military projects at the time, and the entire island was renamed Showa Island.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the entire island was returned to the Junpu Bureau for use. To celebrate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and national revival, the island was named Fuxing Island, and a “Fuxing Island Reclaimed Memorial Monument” was erected in the garden in commemoration.
After the liberation of Shanghai, the island was taken over by the Port Authority and turned into a park. In February 1951, it was transferred to the Municipal Construction Bureau, and after minor repairs, it was opened to the public on May 28.
Fuxing Island Park has been renovated many times. The memorial monument was once destroyed but later rebuilt and renamed “Fuxing Stone,” with the back side recording the history of the park.
Check-in points inside the service station
1. Octagonal Pavilion
270-degree view. The window overlooks the lush camphor forest. The scenery is pleasant.
2. Junpu Memory Wall
There are three ship models here, namely the “Jianshe” ship, the “Hailong” ship, and the 4001 ship, which represent the construction ships that achieved outstanding achievements in the history of the Shanghai Navigation Bureau. The “Jianshe” ship was a self-propelled hopper dredge purchased from Germany by the Junpu Engineering General Bureau in 1934. The ship had a cargo capacity of 3250 cubic meters, making it the most advanced 10,000-ton dredging ship at the time and was known as the “Number One in the Far East.” It was the main ship for dredging the Huangpu River. On the eve of the liberation of Shanghai, Ding Guitang, then director, led the Junpu employees to carry out a movement to protect the ships and factories and welcome the liberation. In the end, the “Jianshe” ship remained in the hands of the people. Shortly after, the “Jianshe” ship proved its worth once again. In February 1950, the shore embankment of the Nanjing Pukou Wharf was washed away by the roaring Yangtze River. The Shanghai Junpu Bureau dedicated its entire efforts to the task, sending out 44 dredging and auxiliary vessels, including the “Jianshe” ship. Despite frequent attacks by the Kuomintang enemy aircraft, they successfully completed the emergency rescue mission and defended Nanjing, the new capital of China. This experience was later adapted into the red movie “The Yangtze River Flows.”
3. Hall No. 3
This hall uses a three-fold wide screen design to create a “Park City Live Room.” We will use a promotional video to introduce how Yangpu transformed from an “industrial rust belt” to a “life show belt” and how it will move towards an “ecological embroidery belt.”
4. Hall No. 4
This hall creates an immersive experience hall for the future family living balcony. It will present a wonderful audio-visual feast for everyone, with the changing of the morning and evening, and the changing of the seasons, allowing you to experience the picturesque daily life that the future construction of the park city will bring to every citizen.
5. Hall No. 5
This is our Sunshine Study and Party Building Library, offering citizens a quiet and comfortable reading space.
6. East Garden
The East Garden retains the old Osmanthus fragrans vine and the original large trees, one tall and one low, harmoniously complementing each other. They bear witness to the changing fortunes of Bailu.
7. West Garden
The West Garden creates an overall modern oriental landscape charm. A transparent wall is used to borrow the scenery of the park, creating a green and ecological environment. The covered walkway is retained, and floral arrangements, potted bonsai and garden furniture are set up to provide a place for visitors to relax and linger. The garden layout adopts modern techniques, combining with traditional oriental garden aesthetics, creating a sense of boundless mountains and rivers within a limited space.
Inside the park
1. Fuxing Stone
To celebrate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and national revival, a Fuxing Island Reclaimed Memorial Monument was erected in the park. After the monument was damaged, it was rebuilt and renamed “Fuxing Stone.” Today, this has become a patriotic education check-in base.
2. Camphor Lawn
This is the largest spot in the entire park, covering nearly 0.8 hectares. The more than 30 large camphor trees were planted when the park was first built. They have witnessed the historical changes of Fuxing Island Park. One of them is even a 100-year-old ancient tree that is protected.
Opening hours
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Ticket price: Free
Booking method: You can book through the Yangpu Greenery and Landscape Public Account or by calling 55959906.
Nearby check-in points
First stop: Shanghai International Fashion Center
The Shanghai International Fashion Center was born on the site of the former Shanghai 17th Cotton Textile Factory. Located at No. 2866 Yangshupu Road, which was called the “only remaining industrial rust belt in the world” by UNESCO, it covers an area of 120,800 square meters and is turning 100 this year. The original factory was built by the Toyo Spinning and Weaving Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. In 1935, it was renamed Yu Feng Spinning and Weaving Co., Ltd. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, it was taken over by the Nationalist government and renamed the China Textile Construction Company Shanghai 17th Textile Factory. In 1949, it was renamed the State-owned Shanghai 17th Cotton Textile Factory. In 1992, it was renamed Shanghai Longshi Co., Ltd. In 1998, it became the Shanghai 17th Cotton Textile Factory. In 2009, the Shanghai Textile Group carried out transformation and renovation of the “17th Cotton” transformation project, and the “Shanghai International Fashion Center” was born.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Ticket price: Free
Booking method: You need to make an appointment. You can call 13671953835 to make an appointment for a guided tour.
Second stop: Dinghai Road Bridge
Dinghai Road Bridge is the first cable-stayed arch bridge in the urban section of the Huangpu River. It was built due to the development needs of Fuxing Island. To make full use of this “excellent place,” the original Shanghai Junpu Bureau invested 70,000 taels of silver to build the bridge. It was completed and opened to traffic on December 31, 1927. In order to build the bridge, the Junpu Bureau hired many Chinese and foreign engineers to carefully select the location and adopt a design scheme that was compatible with international standards and universal at the time. The bridge has a span of about 90 meters. There are 11 round iron suspension columns on each side of the arch. The bottom elevation of the beam is 7.40 meters. The piers, the bridge deck, the banks and the bridge deck all adopt a unique craftsmanship that was popular at the time. The nearly 100-year-old Dinghai Road Bridge is now responsible for the transportation between Fuxing Island and the downtown area. In 2011, Dinghai Road Bridge was listed as an “immovable cultural relic registered by Yangpu District” and a “readable building” in Yangpu District.
There is also a little-known red story on this bridge. On one day in February 1932, Shanghai driver Hu Amao drove a truck loaded with Japanese soldiers and military supplies into the Huangpu River, sacrificing his life to create a story of anti-Japanese heroes at the head of Dinghai Bridge.
Third stop: Fuxing Island
Fuxing Island is located in the northeast of Shanghai’s central urban area. It is crescent-shaped, covering an area of about 1.133 square kilometers. It is an artificial island in the Huangpu River. It was originally a shallow beach near Zhoujiazui Village on the Huangpu River. The locals called it “Zhoujiazui Sha.” In 1905, the Qing government officially established the Shanghai Junpu Engineering General Bureau and began dredging the Huangpu River waterway. From 1925 to 1934, this beach was massively reclaimed to become land. In 1927, the Junpu Bureau bought the right to use it from the government for 400,000 taels of silver and began developing and utilizing it. It was later named Zhoujiazui Island and Dinghai Island. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was occupied by the Japanese army and renamed Showa Island. In 1946, it was renamed Fuxing Island, which is still in use today.
There is also a red story about the Shanghai Junpu Bureau here. In 1949, the Junpu Bureau received an urgent notice that Kuomintang military and political personnel in Shanghai would flee to Taiwan on the “Jianshe” dredger and the “Lijian” survey ship. Director Ding Guitang resolutely informed the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China of his desire to surrender. After receiving personal instructions from Zhou Enlai, Ding Guitang led the Shanghai navigation workers to launch a movement to protect the ships and factories and welcome the liberation. In the end, the “Jianshe” ship, the “Lijian” ship, and other dredging ships returned to the people’s hands intact. At 4:30 a.m. on May 25, 1949, the Customs House displayed a huge red banner announcing the liberation of Shanghai, “Welcome the People’s Liberation Army to Liberate Greater Shanghai!” The “Jianshe” ship, the “Lijian” ship, and a group of other ships, accompanied by the long sound of bells, docked safely at their home port. This story was adapted into the movie “The Yangtze River Flows.”
Fuxing Island has a different atmosphere from those tourist destinations. It can’t be called an idyllic paradise either. There are many old factories, old warehouses, old ferry wharves, and an old park. Most of the islanders are factory workers and their families. There are no commercial housing, no convenience stores, no cinemas, and no cafes. Time seems to have stood still here, preserving the most simple appearance. It is also a small island that many people will never forget, carrying a lot of memories.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Ticket price: Free
Booking method: You need to make an appointment. You can book through the Yangpu Greenery and Landscape Public Account or by calling 55959906.
Tourist route
Shanghai International Fashion Center → Dinghai Road Bridge → Fuxing Island → Fuxing Island Park
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