YANGPU District plans to build a museum along Huangpu River showcasing China’s industrial history dating back over a century.

The district is surveying all its historic buildings along the river. The aim is to preserve valuable structures as well as to collect exhibits for the Shanghai Industry Museum, according to Zuo Weidong, chairman of the Yangpu Riverside Investment and Development Co, who is in charge of the riverside development.

Officials said yesterday the district government would invite over 50 experts on finance and urban planning to the Yangshupu International Innovation Forum on Saturday to advise on developing the riverside. The experts will give speeches on scientific innovation, finance, culture and ecologic civilization.

Yangpu’s riverside area was once home to many of China’s earliest industries, including paper and textile mills, shipyards, water plants, coal gas plants, and a fish market — many of them dating back up to 100 years.

Many historic items such as machines and equipment have been discovered during the riverside development. They have been stored temporarily in a warehouse on Fuxing Island and will be exhibited to the public in the future museum, Zuo told a press conference.

The district government has invited Chang Qing, of the Chinese Academy of Science, to lead an expert team to evaluate the history, construction materials and former functions of every factory along the riverside.

Many historic structures that were initially due to be torn down for the development campaign have now been saved from the bulldozers.

Shanghai plans to open a total of 45 kilometers of uninterrupted pedestrian paths between Yangpu and Xupu bridges by the end of the year, which involves considerable demolishing work along the river.

Shanghai Minghua Sugar Plant built in 1913, for instance, will be restored to as it was by using old photos and documents from the district archives, Zuo said. The original plant had undergone a major renovation in 1960s with additional floors being built, he added.

Some of the historic buildings would be turned into public space for entertaining and sports, Zuo said.

The district government plans include parks, pedestrian and cycle paths, as well as renovated industrial buildings.