Reproducing the discourse on industrial heritage in China: reflections on the evolution of values, policies and practices

The conservation of industrial heritage is a form of values-based social practice that is not only constituted by the normative heritage discourses, but is also influenced by other contextualised social and cultural imperatives. The ideas about what constitutes industrial heritage, the value of the remains of industrial culture, and the practices of conservation continue to evolve. This paper reflects on this evolution in the context of the Chinese cultural heritage protection system. Emphasis is placed upon the trend that the industrial heritage is redefined in, and managed through, sensitive legislation and policies. Furthermore, this paper examines how the conservation of industrial heritage is adopted in varying forms of adaptive reuse by taking examples from Shanghai. Its policy domain has become multi-disciplinary, and it is important to develop dynamic ways of conservation compatible with the current and ongoing urban development and its planning practices.