Zhongshan Shipyard Park Steel Bridge

Project Profile

Zhongshan Shipyard Park is located in downtown Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, covering a total area of 10.3 hectares. The site was formerly occupied by the Yuezhong Shipyard, which stood beside the Qijiang River, encircling a lake that connects to the river. Established in 1953 and closed in 1999, the shipyard bore witness to the arduous journey of China’s industrialization through self-reliance—a history rich with struggle and transformation. After its closure, many of the original structures remained, including shipbuilding workshops, crane frameworks, utility facilities, and machinery.

The design of Zhongshan Shipyard Park embraces the philosophy of “treasuring the worn broom”—a metaphor for cherishing what may seem old or obsolete. It preserves the entrepreneurial legacy of that era, transforming it into an authentic and invaluable piece of urban memory, while also generating new civic value. The park celebrates the culture beneath our feet and the beauty of wild grasses, making use of the site’s existing vegetation to repurpose industrial land into an open public space that reflects the cultural character of the industrial age.

A highlight of the park is the steel bridge, which continues the industrial aesthetic with rigorous attention to detail. Departing from traditional Chinese gardens that avoid straight paths and Western classical gardens that emphasize symmetry and ornamental beauty, this bridge embodies the spirit of the 21st century: efficiency, clarity, and individuality. Based on the scientific principle that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, it creates a purposeful and expressive route through the park.

From the bridge, visitors are offered the best view of the “Amber Lighthouse.” Much like ancient insects preserved in radiant amber, an ordinary water tower from the former shipyard is now encased in a sleek, modern glass façade—blending old and new, industry and innovation. At night, the lighthouse lights up the Qijiang River and the surrounding cityscape, as well as its own interior, softly illuminating the memories of a bygone era.