“Aligned by astronomers.” That’s what makes the \u4e1c\u65b9\u4e4b\u5149 Statue so special. This isn’t just a sculpture. It’s a fully functioning sundial.
The \u4e1c\u65b9\u4e4b\u5149 Statue stands tall near the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Have you noticed the needle running through its center? Astronomers from the Shanghai Observatory precisely aligned it. It points north. The shadow it casts tells the time.
Completed in 2000 the \u4e1c\u65b9\u4e4b\u5149 Statue marked Shanghai’s entrance into a new century. Zhong Song designed it. He was a student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He later became known for designing the Wujiaochang area’s sunken plaza.
J. M. Charpentier first suggested the sundial idea. He was the French architect behind Century Avenue. He also designed Nanjing Lu Pedestrian Street and the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Chen Yifei oversaw the project. He was a renowned Chinese oil painter.
The \u4e1c\u65b9\u4e4b\u5149 Statue consists of over 6000 meters of stainless steel tube. It weighs more than 55 tons. Realizing this project cost six million RMB. One hundred workers built it. Twelve engineers and three cranes were needed. The disc is 20 meters high. It has a 24-meter diameter.
During construction, Zhong Song fired four teams. He demanded purity of shape. He didn’t want supporting devices. Computer software helped the China Steel Construction Society. They found a practical solution. It didn’t affect the sculpture’s design.
The name \u2018Oriental Light\u2019 reflects its purpose. It is a beacon. It marks time. The \u4e1c\u65b9\u4e4b\u5149 Statue symbolizes progress. It embodies Shanghai’s spirit. Take a moment to appreciate its design. Note how it blends art and science. Consider its role. It marks time in this vibrant city.