Rivers make a city more beautiful and dynamic. Shanghai is such a city where rivers flow such as Suzhou River, Wusong River, Huangpu River, and Yangtze River. But you may not know that these rivers are connected by a river named Wenzaobang and flow into the sea together. Baoshan District is surrounded by rivers and located near the sea. Wenzaobang River flows through Baoshan before running into the sea. On the banks of the river, commercial ports, industries, municipal administration, education, and military affairs have been developed for a hundred years.    

On May 25, an open Party lecture tour themed with "Walking along the Wenzaobang River, Visiting the Science & Innovation Bay" was started at the source of Wenzaobang River. Participants walked and visited sites along the river (in the river reach of Baoshan), learning about the history of a hundred years and the revolutionists and socialism builders' mission of serving the people. They finally reached the venue of Party lecture Wusong Commercial Ports Opening Memorial Plaza located at the estuary of Yangtze River, Huangpu River, and Wenzaobang River.

Chen Jie pointed out that members of Communist Party of China (CPC) had experienced difficulties and setbacks all the way and stayed true to their original aspiration of fighting for the happiness of the Chinese people and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The 100-year CPC history is a history of “born for the people and prospered by the people”. In the Party lecture activity, we listened to the story told by Hu Jijun, son of the martyr Hu Wenjie, recalling the times of wars. When we saw China Baowu Steel Convention and Expo Center (the “golden furnace”), we could see the efforts made by the old-generation iron men for the industry development. Talking with CEOs born in the 1980s and 1990s, we could see the bright future of Baoshan which is in a new historical development period. We were not just walking along the mother river of Baoshan, but could felt empowered by the history of Baoshan. Let’s fight for a better Baoshan.

In the Party lecture activity, Chen Jie, secretary of the District Party Committee, Hu Jijun, vice president of Beijing New Fourth Army Research Institute and son of Hu Wenjie who sacrificed for liberating Baoshan, Liu Tao, general manager of Shanghai Shengluo Biomedicine Development Co., Ltd., Wang Hua, strategic partner of Quicktron Intelligent Technology, and Zou Yiming, first prize winner of 35th and 36th Shanghai Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest and student from Gaojing First Middle School jointly lighted the beacon.    

Zhang Yi, deputy secretary of the District Party Committee, announced to launch the Slogan Collecting Activity of the Science and Innovation Campaign in Baoshan.

Zhao Yi, member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee and head of the District Publicity Department, Wang Yuchun, general manager of Shanghai Branch of People.cn, and Wang Haibin, general manager of AJMIDE Media jointly announced to launch the short video competition “See Baoshan for 100 Seconds”.

The first video of “See Baoshan for 100 Seconds” was played in the activity.

The Party lecture activity also focused on building the main front of science and technology innovation center. Ten CEOs in Baoshao who were born in 1980s and 1990s communicated with on-site and online audiences, presenting images of Baoshan’s innovative entrepreneurs and endogenous dynamic of scientific innovation. Party member representatives, professors from universities, writers, reporters from convergence media, and young talents shared their feelings when walking along the Wenzaobang River and thoughts on the aspiration of CPC.

Nature shapes rivers and rivers nurture cities. Wenzaobang River is not only the mother river of Baoshan but also has witnessed the development of modern history and social reforms in Baoshan.

In 2020, a new chapter for transformation of Baoshan was opened. As a main river flowing through the east and west of Baoshan, Wenzaobang River connects innovation clusters such as Nanda area and Wusong area in implementing the scientific innovation strategy.

The old plants, factories, and storage yards are now turned into charmful hi-tech parks. The development plan of North Shanghai, Scientific Innovation Bay, and Four-Quadrant are ready to be launched. The mother river is promoting the scientific and technological innovation in Baoshan. Today when we are walking on the banks of the river, we are surprised by the significant change from a rusty industrial belt to a prospecting scientific innovation belt. 

Guided by the concept of “people’s livelihood and development”, landscape along the Wenzaobang River is being improved, creating clean water and green riverbanks for people. The improvement project also plays a role of bridge in renovating space and building a new image in Baoshan.   

The improvement project focuses on the four-quadrant area formed by the intersection of Wenzaobang River and metro Line 1 and is jointly developed by Miaohang Town, Gucun Town, Yanghang Town, and Zhangmiao Street. Stretching from the viaduct bridge in Gonghexin Road in the east to a section of 1.4 kilometers in length of Miaohang Town near Kangning Road Bridge, the improvement project involves Shanghai Intellect Industry Park, Intelligence Park, Longsheng Dynamic Town, and Donglin Industry Park. Previously these parks were separated from Wenzaobang River by walls. In the improvement project, these separation walls will be demolished. Sidewalks, green plants, and rest pavilions will be built and expected to open to the public on July 1 of this year. At that time, people can see beautiful scenery, taste delicious food, and enjoy leisure time here. 

Notably, one site of the Party lecture tour is China Baowu Steel Convention and Expo Center also called the Golden Furnace which presents an epitome of steel industry in modern China. Located in the south of Wusong Innovation City, the Golden Furnace is renovated from buildings in the core area of former Baosteel Stainless Steel Blast Furnace and now is a brand-new public area with work, living, and entertainment function. From the hardcore industry to ecological punk, the golden furnace is turning into one of the most brilliant part in the city.  

Wusong area was opened as commercial ports twice, laying a solid foundation for the future economic and cultural development and construction. The Party lecture tour ended at Wusong Memorial Plaza of Opening Commercial Ports where an innovative Party lecture was delivered. Participants in the activity visited places along the Wenzaobang River, attended exhibitions, shared feelings of participating such activity, and discussed leap-forward development of areas along the river. The activity enabled participants to learn about the history of CPC, discuss the future development, and strengthen the cohesion of scientific innovation, which will further enlarge the influence of Baoshan District as the main front in building Shanghai into a science and technology innovation center and make the brand "Science and Technology Innovation Bay in North Shanghai" more famous.