Young painters transform Shanghai alley with ‘Rainbow Bridge’ landmark mural

Recently, at the invitation of the neighborhood committee, a group of "little designers" from the community gathered in the public alley of Hongdong residential complex to jointly create a scenic painting titled "Rainbow Bridge," which features landmarks from Hongqiao Subdistrict, Changning District, and the entire city of Shanghai.

The unfurled painting has not only become a beautiful sight in Hongdong but also marks the beginning of the community’s efforts to create child-friendly spaces.

During visits and surveys, Hongqiao Subdistrict found that although Hongdong is recognized as a national elderly-friendly demonstration community with many senior-friendly facilities, it lacked dedicated spaces for children. To address this, the subdistrict’s social work office collaborated with the residential committee to use this mural painting activity as an opportunity to inspire residents’ enthusiasm for community building and empower children and teenagers to become "little masters" of their community.

On this 30-meter-long painted wall, familiar landmarks are connected by a vibrant rainbow: the towering residential buildings of Hongdong, the thriving plane trees of Hongqiao Subdistrict, the elegant Children’s Palace of Changning District, and Shanghai’s globally renowned skyscraper trio—the Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai Tower.

In addition to urban landscapes, Shanghai elements such as magnolia flowers and the "Four Great Kings" of breakfast culture are also depicted.

"The children’s creativity was boundless. Imaginative elements like colorful balloons tied to buildings and all-powerful sci-fi robots kept emerging. We refined their ideas and expanded them into artistic scenes, integrating symbols of community culture," the designer of "Rainbow Bridge" said.