Anime And AI Give Fuxing Island A New Life

[General]Huangpu River
Huangpu
Yangpu

Anime And AI Give Fuxing Island A New Life

Nicole Wang set aside two days of her October holiday for Fuxing Island. The Hefei University lecturer chose October 2 and 3 for a return to Red Land, the anime and gaming festival she attended last year.

“It has that adventure-island feel,” she said before the festival. “Last time, the main issues were the heat and that it was a bit dirty. It should be a little better this time.”

The festival, which runs through October 6, is part of a broader change. Shanghai is opening the island’s former industrial spaces to anime fans, artificial intelligence developers and young entrepreneurs. Warehouses and shipyard grounds are becoming places to gather, test robots and start businesses.

The island lies in the Huangpu River in Yangpu District and covers about 1.3 square kilometers, roughly the size of 180 standard football pitches. Last year’s three-day festival drew about 100,000 visitors, according to district accounts. That works out to an average of roughly 33,000 a day on this small island.

Much of its industrial land was once held in reserve for future development. The Global Makers Island plan now gives it three roles: a testing ground for future cities, a base for entrepreneurs and skilled workers, and a center for technology that helps cities understand and manage their physical surroundings. Design, art and public recreation form part of Yangpu’s broader vision.

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Architect Shen Lu, who has led planning studies for the island, described its intended place on Shanghai’s waterfront.

“The richest people may end up on one stretch of the river, the smartest on another,” he said. “But the youngest belong on Fuxing Island.”

Red Land makes the industrial setting part of the attraction. Xiaohongshu, the social media platform also known as RedNote, organizes the festival. At last year’s debut, visitors completed missions and traded badges among warehouses, trees and shipyard structures.

Xiaohongshu content supervisor Bai Ban explained the choice of venue at the time.

“It fits the worlds of games and anime. We want more young people to know this place,” Bai said.

The event draws on China’s anime, comics and gaming culture, known as erciyuan. Fans dress as fictional characters and make costumes and props. The outdoor setting lets them take part in stories they usually encounter on a screen.

This year’s program lists more than 100 game and entertainment franchises, including Genshin Impact and Marvel It adds evening float parades and daytime and nighttime performances, giving visitors reasons to stay beyond the exhibition booths

The festival also reaches beyond the island. About 150 merchants are offering ticket holders dining, shopping and entertainment discounts under a district program. Visitors must show valid tickets, and offers vary.

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