The site of China’s first rocket launch

By:  August 20, 2023 Categories: 

Shanghai often feels to me like a GTA map or Azeroth: Massive with distinct areas and yet so many tiny places and sidequests to explore. Today I went on a sidequest, to see the site of China’s first rocket launch. (Thanks to Historic Pudong for the tip.)

On the site now stands a pillar, with in front the now-holy piece of concrete from which a rocket launched in 1960. Around it in a circle, slabs of concrete for cable anchors. It’s extremely far out of the city, on the aptly named ‘Rocket Road’ (火箭路), next to a museum (which wasn’t open yet early this morning).


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