First Glimpse of Jiangsu Garden Expo Park: 'Reviving' Industrial Relics, Time Art Valley

Way of travel: self-driving

Time of travel: May 2021

Attraction: Jiangsu Garden Expo Park

Address: near the northeast intersection of Husheng Road and Hufa Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing

Walking route: West Gate of the park → Time Art Valley → French Garden → English Garden

The Garden Expo Park has opened—a major event in Jiangsu Province! It has even been flooding the screen on CCTV recently. Many friends rushed to visit during the May Day holiday. I had already bought early-bird tickets in early April, and luckily they were upgraded to an annual pass. With this pleasant surprise, I wasn't in a hurry anymore—after all, I have a whole year to use it whenever I have time and mood. A friend who lives in Tangshan also has an annual pass and shared tips on how to explore the park. Because the park is so huge, it's almost impossible to see everything in one go. We live in the eastern part of the city, and it's a convenient 20-minute drive to the park. My friend suggested we visit multiple times, focusing on one area each time and parking at the nearest parking lot to minimize walking. For our first trip, we chose the Xiping Gate parking lot, parked the car, and walked to the ticket office.

Along the way, rolling hills stretched out, a sea of green. On the slopes, rocks were stacked artfully and trees stood out boldly, each a carefully designed vignette.

Now the admission is half price—a ticket costs only 55 yuan to explore this 354-hectare park. What a wonderful deal! And for us annual pass holders, we just swipe our ID cards to enter, which gives us a sense of ownership and pride. After ticket checking at Xiping Gate, there is a large square. On the bare rock face, three big characters are engraved—“园博园” (Garden Expo Park)—an imposing sight.

The park is built into the mountainside, and modern elevators spare visitors the climb. On one side, a height difference creates a waterfall, blending mountain and water. The elevator took us to the top, where massive square stones were stacked to reinforce the slope and create a landscape. The vegetation on both sides was planted with careful consideration of variety and density. Greenery hugs the stones, trees provide mid-ground, and a row of bamboo acts as a higher screen—arranged in layers with varying shades of green, well designed in form and color. Look at the pine tree on the left: like a welcoming guest pine, it extends its branches as if greeting us warmly.

A panoramic map and introduction of the park were on display. After checking the general layout, we decided to explore the southwest corner of the park today—Time Art Valley. We walked along the road lined with mountain stones. Turning past a hillside, the view suddenly opened up: nestled in the valley was what looked like a small town. Hotels perched on the slopes. Signposts here indicated directions and estimated walking times. Today, we would only visit Time Art Valley.

A narrow-gauge railway winds its way through the park, linking the vast grounds—a charming touch. On both sides of the tracks, Galsang flowers bloomed so romantically, as if rejoicing in its rebirth. I took two photos here back in October 2018 while visiting Hushan Village. Back then, this was still a quarry for a cement plant; trains of small narrow-gauge cars ran daily between China Cement Plant and the limestone mines in Kongshan, Hushan Village, Tangshan, shouldering the heavy task of transporting stone. Before long, with the cement plant's closure, the narrow-gauge railway also left its industrial life behind. But the creation of the Garden Expo Park gave it a second life. Thanks to the park, this industrial heritage has been preserved, and the narrow-gauge railway has been converted into a sightseeing line. Crossing the tracks, we arrived at Time Art Valley, where every garden setting exuded refinement.

Different colors and shapes marked the various attractions and spots within Time Art Valley. In the valley, a large lawn was brightened by an orange work vehicle—a vivid splash of color. Besides the lawn, there was also a water feature creating a mirrored square. The rippling water disrupted the reflections of factory buildings and chimneys. Don't be surprised by these towering structures and smokestacks: this was once the abandoned factory of China Cement Plant. Near the middle chimney is where the high-temperature forging and kiln used to be. This old factory has now been transformed into the most eye-catching part of the Garden Expo Park. Looking across, you can see the continuous Indigo Hotel complex on the mountain ridge.

Red smokestacks, towers, steel structure production lines... This area was home to two white-cement plants during the Republic of China era, and later the China Cement Plant and Jiangnan Cement Plant were born here. They used to be the production zones after quarrying in the mountains. Time Art Valley sits on these industrial ruins of the cement plant, and the Garden Expo Park has breathed new life into the old factory buildings. Hydrangeas were in full bloom, and lovely bellflowers added a touch of softness to the tough industrial elements.

This was the exhibition hall for the opening ceremony, now already dismantled. Throughout Time Art Valley are groups of cement silos, a very distinctive architectural feature of cement plants. Following a stairway deep into the silo, I found a circle of seats inside for resting. Stairs from the silos led to another factory building. From the stairs, I could see the facades of the silos. They were interconnected. The park has preserved the original China Cement Plant buildings as much as possible. Directly opposite the silos, connected by a stairway, a factory building has been turned into a Coca-Cola Brand Pavilion. Looking back at the silo I'd just been in, the trees growing on top of it were highly creative.

The main street of Time Art Valley. Entering the factory building turned Coca-Cola Brand Pavilion, on the left after entering was a service counter where staff sold drinks. There were also several vending machines inside for self-service. I bought a cup of Coke to see if it tasted better at the brand store. Against the grey industrial backdrop, red was used as the overall design color, with Coca-Cola cans of various sizes and shapes as decoration. On the wall, a "Timeline Wall" was richly and exquisitely designed, recording major events of Coca-Cola from 1886 to the present. Coca-Cola in a snowy world, full of childlike whimsy and a hint of cool refreshment. The Coca-Cola Museum collected all kinds of Coca-Cola packaging and displayed many memorable Coca-Cola merchandise items. Seeing these reminded me of a sports buddy who drinks Coke like water every day—he would definitely love this museum. I’ll recommend it to him when I get back, though he might have visited already. The place had a retro vibe: a phonograph, a Shanghai cheongsam lady, neon lights, and a vintage car. The various scenes created were perfect for photo ops. Retro style, quirky style... shutterbugs, pose to your heart's content! Inside the industrial building, red arrows on the cement floor guided us through interactive photo spots linked to the brand's chronology. You can pose in all sorts of ways and soak up Coca-Cola's history. It’s a great way for people to learn about the brand, and also excellent brand promotion.

Across from the museum were a Meiyijia supermarket and a 7 Fentian dessert shop. At that moment, a small train was running; I took a photo from afar. Sculptures on the small square. This cement factory building has now been turned into the Dark Horse World Comics Museum. The museum is rich in content, consisting of three main areas: the comic museum, the comic academy, and retail. Text introduced the original intention behind establishing the museum and the history of comics. I'm not particularly a comics fan, but I do love some well-known and interesting movies adapted from comics.

Upon entering, I faced a tall factory hall where comic panels were displayed on huge film-like columns extending to the ceiling. I looked up, trying to capture the full picture, which was a bit challenging. A museum staff member, seeing me straining my neck, showed me a good camera angle, and indeed I got a full view of the entrance. There was actually a huge, genuine cement mixer here. The original industrial scene was enhanced with sound, light, and multimedia, creating an eye-catching effect. The design of the entire Dark Horse comic venue cluster uses an industrial style as the main tone, preserving elements of the cement plant's industrial heritage while incorporating Dark Horse's rich IP content and diverse art forms. The museum's design largely maintains the original architectural style and equipment remains. Industrial elements are combined with Dark Horse's numerous IP images and interactive content.

"The Mask", "Judge Dredd", "Aliens vs. Predator", "Hellboy", "Star Wars"... all these well-known classics are works under Dark Horse. Dark Horse Comics holds over 300 IP licenses, over 3,000 comic titles, and works closely with more than 2,000 writers and artists. Its comic subjects span a wide range, covering sci-fi, fantasy, action, family entertainment, and more. These familiar works have accompanied generations of comic fans. The exhibition takes the history of comics as the main thread, offering us the most comprehensive introduction and viewing experience. The Golden Age of Comics: in 1938, the first comic superhero was born; in the spring of 1939, Batman appeared; in 1941, Wonder Woman... It was an era of superheroes, and the Golden Age of American comics ended in 1954.

Cement mixers and steel staircases well preserved the factory's original appearance. Climbing the clanging stairs to the second floor, I saw the all-powerful Superman. This area introduced the development of Japanese manga from 1947 to 1977—that adorable, magical Doraemon was something I once dreamed of owning. The Bronze Age of comics was in the mid-to-late 1960s. An entire wall was dedicated to 1980s comics, and there were works from the 1990s. The Silver Age brought a second boom to American comics, still dominated by superhero themes. I especially liked Wonder Woman, adapted into a movie—super cool and sexy. The Modern Age comics characters... Returning to the ground floor: the era of Chinese comics. Here, text and videos introduced works adapted from comics into films. As a movie lover, I'm actually more familiar with comic-to-film adaptations. The walls, pillars, large spaces, and small corners were all covered with various works. Dark Horse World Comics Museum, drawing on nearly 40 years of history and accumulation, combined with the latest immersive interactive technology and multimedia experiences, presented a multitude of famous comic images and renowned cartoonist stories in this way.

Besides the comic introduction, there was also a Dark Horse Alien Trendy Toys retail store, a shop integrating comic-related merchandise from the three giants Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse. There were many trendy items here, a place sure to be beloved by comic fans. On a pink "cart," there were all kinds of instant cameras, adorable in color and shape, stirring my long-hidden girlish heart. I searched online and found that this museum claims to be the world's first; I'm not sure if it is, but it's the first comic museum I've ever seen. I have friends who are fans of Japanese manga, and I can understand how such a museum would charm comic enthusiasts. Especially since it incorporates elements from the century-old cement plant site, creating a one-of-a-kind comic culture venue with global style.

Leaving the Dark Horse Museum, I saw several silos on the west side. The silos with trees growing on top had become Librairie Avant-Garde, a chain bookstore hailed as "China's most beautiful bookstore." The Librairie Avant-Garde in the Expo Park's silos is accessed via this "bridge," leading into an unknown world. Who would have thought that the seemingly "ordinary" silo interior hides a whole new world? Following a spiral staircase to the bottom, I discovered a Librairie Avant-Garde tucked inside. A world of books. This silo bookstore is mesmerizing and magical. The circular walls rise straight up, lined with books, rows of bookshelves...

Inside the round silo, many mirrors created a disorienting, fun mirror effect. I dedicated a separate travelogue to this bookstore, so let's continue our tour here. Stepping outside into the bright world, the buildings were covered with greenery, full of life. A glass-and-steel structure was encircled by green bamboo, and a water feature added a lively touch. The tough industrial elements in the block are all accompanied by green plants, making it vivid rather than monotonous. I walked from the west side of the street to the east, exploring places I hadn't yet been. A flower bloomed proudly. A cluster of flowers gathered together. Passing by the Coca-Cola Museum again, its window display was retro and romantic. Another group of silos stood together. Silos used to be where raw materials were distributed or finished products stored in cement plants, but now they've been turned into internet-famous photo spots.

Approaching the iconic Time Clock of the Garden Expo Park. These industrial relics of the cement plant, through preservation, processing, and reshaping, retain the original appearance of the old buildings while also being rejuvenated. The old buildings use reinforced structures and incorporate various "corridor" spaces, connecting with the old buildings in terms of circulation and form, adding layers and making them richer and more attractive. In the industrial heritage area, viewing galleries atop silos, outdoor exhibition corridors, and horticultural landscape corridors are combined with a green system to create modern green horticultural exhibition halls. This factory building has been transformed into a Time Post Office. The post office is literally a workshop—industrial roof, industrial suspended air conditioning, industrial track lighting, industrial iron display cabinets... Especially, in the middle of the post office, there's a cylindrical piece of equipment that runs through the building; was it used to transport stone back in the day? It has been preserved in its original place. Looking out the window at the distant mountains and the nearby silos, the view was distinctive.

Various local specialties and post-office-related cultural creative products were on sale. At the post office, you can also buy a Garden Expo Park passport, and it would be fun to collect stamps at each attraction with it. The cylindrical equipment that runs through the room connects directly to the outside—it was probably used for stone conveyance. Looking at these designs, they are truly creative, preserving the industrial heritage completely while becoming part of today’s creative scene, a world of its own. A century-old cement plant, everything in front of me is still so real. When facing history, what do you want to say? Time flies; think about your life journey and what you might want to tell your future self. Why not write it down here and send it to the future you?

A red-and-green postbox. The message booth at Time Post Office—here you can leave words you want to tell yourself or someone else; maybe you'll feel inspired when you visit later. On the wall, a lifelike mural of a train. A row of mailboxes spread out. The combination of post office elements and industrial style is perfect and creative. Leaving the nostalgia-inducing, dimly lit Time Post Office, I returned under the blue sky. The park is still under construction, and workers can be seen everywhere laboring. Look, there are workers atop the silos. That is a sculpture of laborers. The factory buildings are labeled with English letters. The clock tower is the symbol of the main exhibition hall and the space-time landmark of the Garden Expo Park. From afar, you can see its magnificent posture. At this moment, I looked up and took a photo of this combination of modern Western craftsmanship and traditional Chinese culture—the "Nanjing Clock." I had to try my best to fit the 48-meter-tall "Nanjing Time" spire entirely into the frame.

This tall clock tower used to be a feeding silo. After completing its century-long functional mission, it has been reborn as a "time landmark," recording the past, bearing the present, and heralding a new future that "blooms forever." When the hands point to the hour, the melody of "Jasmine Flower" rings out and can be heard throughout the park. Beyond the Nanjing Clock, a spiral staircase leads to the Time Exhibition Hall, where time records memories and cameras freeze stories. But it seemed not open at the moment—maybe it's a reason for me to return. I moved back a bit to snap a full-body shot. Continuing east from the clock tower, the strong industrial vibe persists. Here is a Camera Art Museum. On the road in front of it stands a statue. Surprisingly, you need to buy a 10-yuan ticket to visit it; I was puzzled and didn't go in. Let's continue to other experience halls. With a bit of curiosity, I entered the next one—haha, a cute, magical Toy Dream Factory. So many adorable, cuddly toys. So many familiar cartoon characters. The princess of Elf City—Trolls. Various toys featuring Trolls. A dream factory that kids love, selling a vast array of IP derivatives, from Kung Fu Panda to How to Train Your Dragon, everything is available. All these cute toys made a person my age feel younger and more playful just wandering here.

Leaving the adorable Toy Dream Factory, I returned to the outdoors. This is Time Art Valley, centered around the main exhibition hall formed from the repurposed buildings of the century-old China Cement Plant. The abandoned cement factory buildings, carefully selected and reinforced, preserve almost intact the production-process architecture. Over 40 cement silos and a dozen factory buildings have been transformed into bookstores, museums, art galleries—a unique cultural creative art space. It's now a composite district integrating exhibitions, industrial heritage, commercial experiences, offices and meetings, leisure services, and boutique hotels. In Time Art Valley, the Camera Art Museum, Time Post Office, Dark Horse World Comics Museum, Toy Dream Factory... a collision of vintage industrial style and "trendy play" brought us a fun experience. Among the large preserved buildings, clusters of small structures have been built in the open spaces, creating a contrast between old and new. They use lightweight construction to create a light image. The prefabricated steel structural system, with slender structural members combined with climbing vertical greenery, creates a light architectural image, contrasting with the rough, heavy industrial buildings. Their function is to address dining needs in the park. This is Time Art Valley, a distinctive factory texture, industrial architectural space, and new steel production equipment together forming a fantastical group picture. The century-old industrial heritage has been revived—not only has its "appearance" changed, but its inner "temperament" has been strongly refreshed. Walking further away, I suddenly wondered: does this old cement plant have "perception"? Did it ever imagine that one day it would become so fashionable?

My companion complained about the heat and insisted on returning, so we had to leave. I felt the trip was unfinished, with a tinge of disappointment—this is why I often prefer traveling alone. Traveling with others often means you have to accommodate, and mismatched travel partners can make the journey less than ideal.