Changning’s under-bridge art parks transform city life

A recent post on the WeChat public account of CCTV News highlighted an innovative use of public space in Shanghai’s Changning District: the “Bridge Hole Art Park” under the Jiangsu Road N. Bridge.

In 2023, the District Construction Management Commission launched a project to upgrade the under-bridge space of Jiangsu Road N., covering about 1,883 square meters. While preserving the main bridge’s traffic functions, the renovation drew inspiration from the bridge structure itself. 

Designers boldly applied high-saturation bright colors and distinctive geometric lines, reinforcing the visual rhythm of the bridge pillars and the geometric patterns of the pavement. Various installations and structures were abstracted into iconic pipeline forms, highlighting an industrial aesthetic and reflecting the historical industrial transformation along Suzhou Creek.

The space now features nostalgic seesaws, frosted “coin-minting” benches, “beer barrel” interactive installations, and other recreational facilities. Once dismissed as mere leftover urban space, it has become a warm public area connecting people with each other and with the city.

In recent years, the District Construction Management Commission has continuously explored ways to activate and manage under bridge spaces. Apart from the Jiangsu Road N. site, the spaces under Kaixuan Road and Gubei Road have been transformed with lemon and watermelon themes, turning into the lively “Candy Suzhou Creek”. The under bridge area of the Middle Ring Road features cheetahs, zebras and flamingos, creating a playful “zoo” atmosphere. The Jianhe Road under bridge space, centered on an elephant cartoon theme, offers smart and eco friendly staggered parking facilities. Meanwhile, the Kaixuan Bridge is still under construction, and the quality improvement work for its under bridge space will proceed in tandem.

Urban civilization event highlights why expats choose the city

An event titled "Resonant Shanghai – Crafting a New Vision of Urban Civilization" was held on May 28 at the Hongqiao One-Stop Service Center for Overseas Talent in Changning District.

Centering on the theme "Why choose Shanghai, why like Shanghai," the gathering invited Chinese and foreign residents to share their personal experiences and insights, offering participants a deeper understanding of the city's distinctive Shanghai-style urban civilization.

A Belarusian student studying in the city said that she was most impressed by Shanghai's order, safety, and convenience. Urban civilization isn’t just about skyscrapers — it's about respect and kindness among people. In Shanghai, the streets are clean, transport is easy, and even strangers are eager to help with directions. Changning District, as a pioneer of the “15-minute living circle,” allows residents to meet most of their daily needs in one place.

Professor Liu Shilin, dean of the Institute of Urban Science and professor at School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, analyzed the relationship between "city" and "civilization" from the perspective of Shanghai's history and culture, guiding the audience to reexamine the "deep cultural structure" of the city's unique Shanghai-style urban civilization.

On the topic of urban renewal, Wang Jian, associate dean of the Shanghai Institute for Urban Renewal and Sustainable Development, Shanghai University, noted that keeping people at the core of urban development and turning growth outcomes into tangible, everyday happiness is a vital practice of the people-centered city concept and an enduring mission of urban renewal in the new era.

Scholars and residents also discussed emerging ideas, such as the concept of "cultural accessibility" for people from diverse backgrounds. One scholar said that the essence of urban civilization lies not only in infrastructure but also in accommodating cultural differences — a new challenge for Shanghai's public cultural services and urban governance.

‘Super Individual Open Day’ highlights OPC trend in AI era

The "Shanghai Silicon Lane Super Individual Open Day" took place on May 28 at Silicon Lane No.1, focusing on OPC (One Person Company), an emerging entrepreneurial trend, to build a platform for networking and collaboration among "super individuals" in the AI era.

With the rapid advancement of AI technologies, the rise of "super individuals" is becoming a new wave of digital entrepreneurship. Leveraging AI tools and digital platforms, solo entrepreneurs can now efficiently integrate content creation, business operations, and global collaboration, turning the vision of "one person, one company" into reality.

During the keynote session, an architect from Alibaba Cloud shared insights on the development trends of large AI models and their cross-industry applications. He advised entrepreneurs to plan future-ready architectures and partner with full-stack AI providers capable of sustainable growth.

China Unicom and the Changning Sub-branch of China Construction Bank presented communication and financial services tailored to support one-person companies.

The event also featured a roadshow session showcasing outstanding tech innovation projects. Notable among them was Black Lake Technology, a locally grown Changning enterprise, which demonstrated AI-driven flexible manufacturing solutions that have helped nearly 40,000 factories undergo digital and intelligent upgrades. Original Force presented "Shengcai Agent," showcasing a new model for global merchandise operations powered by AI agents. Benshi Culture shared how AI enables consumer brands to achieve lightweight OPC-style entrepreneurship.

The event concluded with a roundtable forum titled "New Opportunities and Ecosystems for OPC Startups Empowered by AI." Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the current state and future trends of the OPC model. Consensus was reached that AI is significantly lowering the barriers to entrepreneurship, and OPC-style "super individuals" are emerging as a key force in cultivating new productive forces in the digital economy.

Columbia Circle transforms into a playground for adults

Columbia Circle, a landmark urban renewal project in Shanghai, continues to evolve with a dynamic mix of pop-up markets, art exhibitions, IP-driven experiences, and upgraded business forms, offering citizens and tourists diverse cultural and consumer experiences.

From May 29 to June 1, the "Big Friends Playground" event turned the entire site into a nostalgic childhood schoolyard for the post-80s and post-90s generations. Activities such as trading cards, arm wrestling, and a watermelon-eating contest — over 30 retro games — allowed adults to temporarily shed work-related stress.

Such pop-up fever keeps refreshing at Columbia Circle. The "POP MART SKULLPANDA – Flower's Four-Act Play Theme Exhibition" has landed at the fountain plaza. Meanwhile, an "Irregular Growth" theme exhibition invited more than 100 parent-child families to create home-based art experiments.

At the historic Sun Ke Villa, which carries the city's memory, the "City Hearts" workshop presented by La Strada Troupe has become a signature cultural event. On June 4, the troupe will present "If Time Could Flow Back," inviting audiences to share personal stories about time and life, allowing unfinished regrets to be seen anew and gently embraced on stage.

The Coffee Theater Festival, now in its sixth consecutive year, has introduced multiple immersive theater productions customized for the site's unique spaces. In May, Zhao Theater moved in for a long-term residency, presenting original Chinese-style musicals.

Today, Columbia Circle has transformed into a vibrant, multi-functional consumer destination. It offers a rich variety of dining options, from specialty coffee and artisanal bakeries to high-end cuisine, while also featuring emerging leisure formats such as immersive role-playing games and Hang healing experiences. Specialty retail is also well represented, including outdoor cycling gear, designer parent-child clothing, and original niche fragrances.

According to a manager of Columbia Circle, the site plans to launch a brand-new initiative in June called "Downstairs Drop-By," inviting tenants and brand partners to co-create a "neighborhood gathering" atmosphere.

Hydrangeas in full bloom along Changning Ecological Greenway

The hydrangea flowers along the Changning Outer-Ring Ecological Greenway have entered their best viewing period, with clusters of full, rounded blooms stretching continuously along both sides of the cycling path. 

As one of the most iconic flowers of early summer, each hydrangea appears to carry its own palette — ranging from delicate pinkish-white to rich blue-purple — offering layers of color with seamless transitions.

The greenway features a wide, flat cycling path, with hydrangeas forming flowing ribbons of flowers along the route. "The path is lined with blooms on both sides. Riding through them makes you feel light and carefree," said a cycling enthusiast.

Beyond hydrangeas, the greenway's early summer ecosystem is rich and diverse. Look up, and you will see loquats and cherry blossoms have already ripened into fruit. Along the path, pink evening primroses, yellow coreopsis, and other wildflowers are in full bloom. Pomegranate flowers have also quietly begun to show their fiery red petals, adding a splash of vibrant color to the lush green trail.

The hydrangea blooming period is expected to last until mid-to-late June. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of sunny weather to enjoy the floral spectacle.