From Yuan Dynasty Sluice to Waibaidu Bridge: The History and Culture of Suzhou Creek

The history carried by its waters tells the story of Shanghai's urban evolution and the everyday life that gives the city its character.

 

 

Today, the opening ceremony of the 6th "Half-Marathon Suzhou Creek" Culture and Tourism Festival and "From Yuan Dynasty Sluice to Waibaidu Bridge: The History and Culture of Suzhou Creek" was held on the first floor of the East Building at the Shanghai History Museum. A highlight of this year's festival, the exhibition is presented under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Putuo District. It is jointly organized by Shanghai History Museum, the Putuo District Administration of Culture and Tourism, and the Shanghai Cultural Heritage Conservation Research Center, and will run through October 7, 2026.

 

 

 

The exhibition was jointly unveiled by:

Hu Guangjie, Secretary of the CPC Putuo District Committee

Cheng Meihong, First-Level Inspector, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism

Zhao Liang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Putuo District Committee and Mayor of Putuo District

Zhao Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Putuo District Committee

Wu Peidong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Normal University Committee, Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Institute of Tourism Committee, and Co-Founder of Meet China

Liu Dongchang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Putuo District Committee and Director of its Publicity Department

Zhou Ruyi, Deputy Mayor of Putuo District

 

 

The following representatives jointly launched the Museum Collaboration Initiative for the Shanghai–Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt:

Zhou Qunhua, Secretary of the General Party Branch and Director, Shanghai History Museum

Zhong Jingwei, Party Branch Secretary and Director, Shanghai Cultural Heritage Conservation Research Center

Kong Da, Deputy Director of the Fudan University Museum and Assistant Chair of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology

Xia Xiangwei, Party Branch Secretary and Executive Deputy Director, East China Normal University Museum

Huang Yang, Vice Dean of the School of Cultural Heritage and Information Management, Shanghai University

Zhu Yan, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director, Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Lu Yanhua, Party Committee Secretary and Director, Zhenjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Zhou Huanxiang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director, Taizhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Zhang Xian, First-Level Investigator, Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism

Xu Min, Deputy Director, Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Wei Xin, Deputy Director, Yangzhou World Heritage Conservation and Management Office

Zhu Xiaodong, Fourth-Level Investigator, Changzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Wu Zhiming, Fourth-Level Investigator, Nantong Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism

Zhou Hanyan, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Putuo District Committee, and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Putuo District Administration of Culture and Tourism

 

 

 

Centred on Suzhou Creek, Shanghai's "Mother River", the exhibition features five themed sections: "A River Through the Ages", "A Thriving Transport Hub", "Memories of the Embankment", "Life on Along the Banks", and "Colors Beneath the Surface". Together, they present a panoramic account of the thousand-year evolution and show how the principle that "the people build the city, and the city is for the people" has been brought to life along its banks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the Special Exhibition Gallery of the East Building, a rich collection of artifacts dating from the Neolithic period to the present is displayed alongside historical documents, archival photographs, and interactive digital exhibits. Together, they trace the evolution of Suzhou Creek's waterways, shipping and commerce, bridges, industrial heritage, urban renewal, and ecological restoration. The exhibition brings the city's collective memory to life and invites visitors to explore the past and present of Shanghai's "Mother River".

 

 

 

 

From Yuan Dynasty sluice to Waibaidu Bridge, and from an industrial rust belt to a vibrant waterfront, Suzhou Creek has witnessed the revitalization of community and once-polluted waters run clear again. Today, residents can open their windows to greenery, step outside into a park, and stroll along the river as part of everyday life. Together with Suzhou Creek, the Shanghai History Museum preserves and shares the city's history and cultural heritage. The Museum also works with industries, universities, and businesses to promote collaboration and integrate culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. Through these efforts, it helps energize waterfront tourism and supports the high-quality development of Shanghai's "One River, One Creek" cultural tourism program.

 

From Yuan Dynasty Sluice to Waibaidu Bridge: The History and Culture of Suzhou Creek

📅 July 11 – October 7, 2026

📌 1/F, East Building, Shanghai History Museum

🎫Free admission. No reservation required.