City set to sparkle
when Jing’an International Sculpture Project opens
Shanghai is poised to sparkle with artistic brilliance when the 8th Shanghai Jing’an International Sculpture Project opens on September 26.
This year’s art extravaganza, running through December 31, promises to transform Jing’an into an expansive open-air gallery, infusing the urban landscape with stunning sculptures and interactive art.
The event, curated by UCCA Lab under the visionary guidance of UCCA director Philip Tinari, is themed “Echoes Among Us.” This theme employs music as a metaphor and draws inspiration from the imagery of concertos, and aims to create a dialogue between humanity and nature, cities and history, and local and global cultures through sculpture.
A total of 35 works by 31 artists—17 from abroad and 14 from China—will be showcased. The international roster includes artists from the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Argentina and Japan.
“Chère Liberté” by Martial Raysse
France, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, is especially prominent this year, with seven notable French artists featured. Among them are Martial Raysse, who holds the record for the highest-priced work ever sold by a living French artist; and Daniel Buren, who won the Golden Lion for Best Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1986.
The exhibition will also highlight significant international figures such as George Rickey from the US, renowned for his precisely engineered kinetic sculptures and celebrated as one of the leading kinetic artists of the 20th century.
In a special touch, 22 of the 35 sculptures have been newly commissioned for this event. International artists including Claudia Comte from Switzerland, Marc Fornes from France, and Yuri Suzuki from Japan will unveil new works that explore the intersections of ecology, architecture, “Chère Liberté” by Martial Raysse sound and sculpture.
Chinese artists will also make a strong showing. Shi Hui, who represented China at the 2024 Venice Biennale, will feature alongside leading contemporary figures from the 1980s and ‘90s, such as Nabuqi, Wang Lijun, Yang Mushi and Zhang Yibei.
The sculptures will be exhibited primarily in Jing’an Sculpture Park, which is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Additionally, art will be displayed across six other prominent locations: Jing An Kerry Center, HKRI Taikoo Hui, Jing’an Tongfu Garden, Shanghai Suhewan MIXC World, Suhe Haus and Jing’an Shuangyong Park.
To encourage public engagement, more than 30 events have been planned, organized into monthly themes.
The “Overture” kicking off in September, will include the opening ceremony and an academic forum titled “Symphony of Time and Space.”
This forum will explore the symbiotic relationship between contemporary sculpture and urban public art, focusing on the roles of water systems, ecology and landscape design in shaping modern urban spaces. It aims to inspire viewers to reflect on how the biennial resonates with urban life and enhances their appreciation of the artworks.
In October, the “First Movement” will feature several lawn concerts. Notably, children from Xinjiang’s Bachu, Hubei’s Yiling and Yunnan’s Wenshan—regions partnered with Jing’an for local development—will be invited to express their interpretations of “Echoes Among Us” through painting.
November’s “Second Movement” will offer city tours and special cultural events focused on French heritage. Finally, the “Third Movement” in December will showcase selected paintings and photos submitted earlier from October, reflecting the public’s engagement with the exhibition’s themes.
Additionally, throughout the event, scholars, writers, artists, architects and designers will provide guided tours, sharing their insights on public art practice and urban culture. Workshops will also be held throughout the event’s period.
Pengyi residents excited
as rebuild of residential complex nears completion
Amid a buzz of construction and swirling dust, the Pengyi residential complex is shedding its old, worn-out image and emerging as a vibrant, modern sanctuary.
Located in the aging Pengpu Xincun area, Pengyi was once a relic of the city’s past. The original buildings, battered by nearly 70 years of neglect, suffered from crumbling facades, outdated utilities, leaky roofs and frequent flooding.
Three years ago, these deteriorated structures were dismantled to pave the way for a new vision.
Today, Pengyi is coming to life with 17 modern high-rises replacing the 40 old multi-story buildings. Each new building features elevators and is clad in glass and steel. Below ground, a vast two-level parking garage now accommodates nearly 1,700 vehicles.
In the first half of 2025.2.110 households will move into their “new old homes.”
The redevelopment includes more than just new apartments. A six-story nursing home with 172 beds will provide care for the elderly, while a 20,000-square-meter community service center will serve as a hub of activity. The center will also feature a pedestrian bridge directly linking to the nearby Metro station for easy access.
As the new Pengyi nears completion, former residents who were temporarily relocated are starting to select their new homes this month. The selection process involves drawing lots to choose floor levels, with apartment sizes and layouts already set. This process is expected to take three months.
On the first day of the lottery, September 2, 73-year-old Xin Tieniu woke up early and headed to a nearby overpass to snap a photo of the newly transformed Pengyi. “I never thought I’d see Pengyi turn into such a neat and beautiful high-rise community in just three years,” he said.
A long-time resident who had lived in Pengyi for over 20 years, Xin and his wife previously occupied a small ground-floor unit with a kitchen and bathroom shared among three households.
“The living conditions were pretty rough. I always thought about leaving, but finding a place downtown was really tough. So, I just stuck it out year after year.”
After moving out in September 2021, Xin rented a place nearby. He eagerly counted off the days, looking forward to moving back.
“I’ve been hoping to return every day, even dreaming about moving into my new home,” he said. “Once everything’s finished next year, I’ll have elevators right outside my door, plus a gym, a garden and all sorts of handy services just downstairs. I never thought it’d turn out like this. My friends and family are super jealous.”
Seventy-two-year-old resident Bao Jialong drew number “1” in the lottery. He walked around the sand model of the new Pengyi complex a few times before choosing a unit on the 15th floor of an 18-story building.
“I’m one step closer to my ‘dream home,’” he said with excitement.
Bao has lived in Pengyi for over 20 years. Since the old buildings were demolished, he has been closely following the progress of the new development, visiting regularly to see how construction is going.
“I’m feeling that I’ve taken a big step toward a happy, new chapter in my life,” he said.
Pengyi is the last of the old residential complexes in Pengpu Xincun to be renovated.
Built in 1958, Pengpu Xincun was one of Shanghai’s first workers’ settlements, later expanding to include Pengyi, Pengsan, Pengwu and Pengqi. In those early days, living in these settlements was a status symbol, as they had modern amenities such as gas stoves and flush toilets. However, over the decades, the buildings began to show their age.
According to Xu Bingrong, who has overseen the renovation of Pengpu Xincun, workers’ settlements built from the 1950s to the 1970s typically had shared kitchens and bathrooms, with two to eight households using these communal facilities.
In 2005, Pengwu became a pioneer in Shanghai’s renovation efforts by transforming these old shared facilities into private ones. This innovative project involved relocating staircases to create space for private bathrooms and toilets, with the work completed between March 2005 and September 2006.
In November 2007, Pengqi adopted a different approach known as “vertical expansion,” adding a new floor to existing buildings to provide private kitchens and bathrooms. This project was finished by April 2009.
Originally, Pengyi had 282 different housing layouts.
“It took a year of efforts and nearly 20 major revisions to finalize 94 new housing designs,” said Ren Wei, secretary of Pengpu Xincun Subdistrict’s Party Working Committee.
During the relocation phase, residents received rental subsidies and only needed to pay a fraction of the market price to move into their new homes. For many long-time residents, the “demolition and rebuilding” approach was ideal, allowing them to move into affordable new homes while maintaining their established neighborhood connections.
The experiences gained from Pengpu Xincun have been shared citywide. So far, Jing’an has completed upgrades in 19 projects, with ongoing renovations at Tanjiaqiao, Fangua Long and Lane 802 Gonghexin Road.
Pengpu official proud of
town’s rapid development
Located in northern Jing’an District, Pengpu Town covers 7.88 square kilometers.
In the past 30 or so years, it has grown from a small village into a modern, appealing place to live and work, achieving several significant milestones, including being one of the first towns in China to reach a billion-yuan output and earning the title of “Hometown of Chinese Folk Art.”
Originally, the town’s economy was mainly based on agriculture and processing.
In 1978, marking the beginning of China’s reform and opening-up, the town’s total output was just 21.15 million yuan (US$2.98 million). In the following years, the town took advantage of its favorable location and transport links to boost its industrial and service sectors.
In 1986, its output had risen to 123 million yuan, making it one of the first towns in China—and the first in Shanghai—to surpass 1 billion yuan in annual output. In 1987, the town’s output reached 136 million yuan, and it was named one of the first “billion-yuan towns” by the State Council.
From the early 1990s, massive urbanization began in Pengpu, which actively changed its industrial focus, shifting from agriculture to a mix of manufacturing and modern services, thus creating a new economic landscape.
During the current “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Pengpu is focusing on four key industries: professional services, data intelligence, life and health, and cultural creativity. This focus has led to a diverse and growing industrial sector.
Recently, Pengpu has seen the development of several major national parks, such as the Shanghai Multimedia Valley and Pengpu Industrial Park, contributing to strong economic growth. In 2023, Pengpu’s total tax revenue surpassed 9 billion yuan, and it is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan this year.
Pengpu is a major development hub in the “Middle Ring’s Innovation and Creativity Cluster,” which is one of the key development belts in Jing’an’s “One Axis, Three Belts” strategy.
The cluster’s southern wing is thriving with film and television media, e-sports and animation industries, while its northern wing focuses on emerging fields such as big data, cloud computing, the industrial Internet and artificial intelligence.
In recent years, Pengpu has seen rapid economic growth.
Office buildings and industrial parks have become central to this development. The town includes two key functional zones—Daning and Shibei—as well as 33 additional office and industrial parks. Notably, Pengpu itself manages over 700,000 square meters of space, including 10 major parks, each valued at over 100 million yuan (US$14 million), such as the Shanghai Multimedia Valley and Northern 1895.
By the end of August this year, the town had introduced 650 new companies, with 20 projects each worth over 1 million yuan and 7 projects each exceeding 10 million yuan.
To support local businesses, Pengpu offers comprehensive services throughout the business lifecycle. This year, it launched a “Business Service Map” aiming to establish a “15-minute business service circle,” providing 24/7 services in office and industrial parks. This includes efficient support and various cultural and recreational activities for businesses.
This “full-service” approach has been well-received by both domestic and international companies.
Pengpu has developed a number of high-quality talent apartments to help businesses attract and retain skilled employees.
To enhance livability, Pengpu has established the Town Service Hub, a comprehensive center offering convenience, professional, volunteer and consultation services.
The hub’s community canteen, spanning over 400 square meters, is especially popular with local seniors. It features age-friendly amenities such as dedicated seating, mobility aids, and health and diet advice from the community health center, along with a special service window for tailored support.
The Baby House provides temporary and hourly childcare for children under three, with age-appropriate classes such as story readings and educational games, as well as parenting advice for young families.
The Senior Fitness Center at the hub offers specialized instruction for safe and effective exercise for older adults.
Additionally, the hub includes a history exhibition area, convenience service hall, reading area, baking zone, self-service community affairs station, employment service station, fitness and health center, nursing and psychological counseling rooms, and a rehabilitation and first aid room.
