A Tour of Shanghai’s Creative Parks

 

Article by Li Xinyi, compiled and reported. Source: MOOK Editorial Department

Shanghai boasts many creative parks that have repurposed old buildings into art hubs. Tianzifang is the most well-known and the first to be developed. Later, M50 in Moganshan gained prominence, attracting a large number of artists who primarily display artworks. Wandering through its unassuming buildings often leads to unexpectedly stunning pieces. Compared to Tianzifang, there are fewer shops and restaurants here. The 1933 Old Millfun was once a slaughterhouse and is now favored by photographers for its dramatic lighting. It mainly houses cultural and creative shops along with specialty restaurants. Meanwhile, Xintiandi, transformed from traditional Shikumen architecture, is lined with upscale restaurants and shopping centers, becoming a vibrant symbol of nightlife in Shanghai after dark.

Located on Taikang Road, “Tianzifang” was the elegant name given to this old alley by painter Huang Yongyu several years ago. Originally an art street created by painters in old factory buildings, it has evolved over the years by integrating tradition with modernity, creating a new trend. It can be considered the origin of Shanghai’s creative development. A five-story factory building within Tianzifang has been transformed into an urban complex, where artists from various countries and regions have set up design studios and workshops. Visiting Tianzifang today feels like stepping into a mini international art fair, where Eastern and Western art blend and collide, offering delightful surprises while shopping.

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In the autumn of 2005, a few young people started selling handmade notebooks in a small shop in Beijing. The business grew rapidly, and in 2006, the first Xingmu Handmade store opened in Beijing, followed by its entry into Shanghai’s Tianzifang in 2009. The covers of these notebooks are mostly inspired by traditional Chinese ink paintings, paper cuttings, and New Year paintings. The rustic kraft paper, paired with twine and linen bindings, gives them a unique texture, making them the store’s flagship products. There are also notebooks with leather covers or photo transfers.

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Located in the peninsula area along the Suzhou River, No. 50 Moganshan Road is home to nearly 50 textile industry buildings from the 1930s to the 1990s. Starting in 2002, it transformed into a gathering place for artists’ studios, galleries, and other creative spaces, gradually establishing itself as a hub for “contemporary visual art.” It currently hosts 130 artist studios, galleries, graphic design firms, film and animation media companies, and more from over ten countries, including China, the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Venezuela. It is undoubtedly Shanghai’s premier creative industry cluster.

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Yijie Art, known in English as “Outstanding Art,” has three locations in Shanghai. Its M50 space officially opened in 2005, focusing on contemporary Chinese oil paintings, particularly those excelling in the genre. Visually, whether the subjects are figures, landscapes, or others, the distinctly Chinese essence is immediately apparent. Their goal is clear: showcasing only “outstanding” oil paintings. Though the exhibition space is modest, the artworks are bold and expansive, evoking a sense of openness.

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