Industrial Heritage in Shanghai - Past, Current Status and Future Direction

Industrial heritage has been given unprecedented attention in the process of urban renewal and development in China's cities, as their urban functions and spatial structures have undergone transformation. This paper provides an overview of the industrial heritage in Shanghai – the distribution and classification of heritage sites, as well as work progress and issues in their preservation and reuse. The paper argues that as Chinese cities are still initial stages of preservation and reuse of industrial heritage, reuse strategies and models best suited for the unique conditions of industrial heritage in China need be further developed, so as to guide scientific efforts in extending the life, and enable multifaceted use, of heritage sites.