just shy of a two-hour drive from the bustling heart of shanghai lies a remarkable transformation—a former industrial scar reimagined into a public sanctuary. this site, which opened its doors to visitors shortly before the shanghai world expo, now welcomes guests with an impressive iron and steel bridge, artfully guiding them from the quarry's precipice down to the serene lake situated thirty meters below.
over the past three years, this innovative project has garnered significant international acclaim, earning a prestigious award from the british association of landscape industries. the following year, the american society of landscape architects further recognized the park's ingenuity, celebrating its success in ecological restoration and its unique blend of natural beauty with oriental aesthetics.
the journey to this revitalized space was indeed a worthwhile endeavor.
the quarry, situated on the southern flank of chenshan hill, had a history spanning decades of intensive mining. the igneous rock extracted from this site formed the very bedrock of shanghai, contributing to the construction of its foundations, roads, and numerous buildings.
operations ceased in the 1990s, leaving behind a desolate landscape. the excavated pit, no longer utilized, gradually filled with water, creating a stark, yet visually arresting, natural pool.
for zhang derong, a lifelong resident of chenshan village, located mere meters from the quarry, the site holds deeply personal memories.
he recounts childhood days spent herding cows home from school, a time when falling rocks from the quarrying activities posed a tangible threat to his family home. mr. zhu, the principal designer behind the project, emphasized the critical importance of weaving the area's mining heritage into the fabric of his reconstruction plans.
his vision was to ensure that the quarry's past was not erased but rather acknowledged and integrated into the new narrative.
"this was something that profoundly impacted me when i first encountered the quarry lake," mr. zhu shared, expressing his desire for visitors to carry that same sense of awe and remembrance.
he selected iron and steel as the primary materials for his design, a deliberate choice to echo the site's industrial legacy. he revealed that an initial suggestion had been to simply fill in the quarry, a proposal he found entirely impractical and unimaginative.
further research revealed that infilling is a common, though he felt, rather rudimentary and potentially unsafe approach to dealing with abandoned excavation sites.
driven by a desire for a more creative and respectful solution, mr. zhu and his design team conceived the ambitious idea of constructing a bridge. this structure would not only provide access but also serve as a dramatic visual link, inviting visitors to descend from the quarry's rim directly to the water's edge.
safety, mr.
zhu stressed, was an overriding concern throughout the design and construction process. the initial blueprint envisioned a bridge that followed the contour of the hillside. however, given the time required for the natural rock formations to stabilize and weather, a more immediate and elegant solution was realized: a floating bridge spanning the quarry lake.
this innovative design offered a secure passage and allowed visitors to leisurely traverse the water's surface.
the realization of the double-curved bridge, the central element connecting the viewing platform to the lakeside, involved close collaboration with zhong'ao environmental sculpture, a specialist firm based in beijing renowned for its expertise in iron and steel fabrication.
mr. zhu yunlei, the project manager at the sculpture company, noted that the construction of this intricate bridge took approximately five months to complete. he described the bridge's unique dual construction, with one side featuring a rusted iron finish and the other a polished steel surface.
the fabrication process involved creating the bridge in sections in beijing before meticulously transporting them to the chenshan site for assembly.
since its grand opening in april , the chenshan botanical garden, which encompasses the quarry, has become an immensely popular destination, drawing a significant number of visitors, particularly those with a passion for photography. in , the garden welcomed a remarkable visitors, underscoring its broad appeal.
the residents of chenshan village, whose households were relocated in to the more modern residential area of jiangqiu xinyuan, located about away, now view the park as a profound testament to their region's industrial heritage.
for individuals like mr. zhang, the park serves as an inspiring reminder of the area's past, a tangible link between history and the present.
readers have expressed significant appreciation for the narrative of this particular work, often describing it as an engaging and entertaining experience.
the pacing of the story is frequently highlighted as a strong point, keeping readers captivated from beginning to end. the visual elements associated with the narrative also contribute to its appeal, with many finding the accompanying imagery to be a valuable enhancement to the reading experience.
the series featuring the character quarry has garnered a dedicated following, with many readers eagerly anticipating new installments.
this particular entry, originally published under a different title before its re-release, is considered a significant contribution to the ongoing saga. the publisher has undertaken a project to reissue the earlier novels, presenting them in an accessible trade paperback format with new cover art.
these collections are designed to be enjoyed independently, as each book typically includes a recap of the protagonist's background, ensuring that new readers can easily join the narrative. the stories themselves are often set at different points in quarry's life, offering a diverse and evolving portrayal of the character.
for those unfamiliar with the series, quarry is depicted as a former hitman who now operates by eliminating other assassins before they can fulfill their contracts.
while this might position him as morally superior to his contemporaries, he remains a formidable and dangerous individual. the author's skill lies in crafting a character that, despite his profession, elicits reader sympathy and a desire for his survival.
the narrative often explores the complexities of his moral code and his approach to his deadly profession.
this specific installment plunges the reader into the world of a porn director on the cusp of mainstream recognition, who becomes the target of an assassination.
the plot takes an intriguing turn when quarry discovers that one of the contracted killers is a former associate, injecting a layer of personal conflict into the mission. the novel does not shy away from depicting the setting of a pornographic film set and includes instances of graphic violence, which may not be suitable for all readers.
while some readers have noted that this novel deviates from the established formula of the series, many, like this reviewer, find this departure to be a source of its unique entertainment value.
the unpredictable nature of the plot and the wild turns of events contribute to a gripping reading experience that is difficult to put down.
the author's ability to craft such an engrossing story, even when stepping outside conventional narrative structures, is a testament to his storytelling prowess.
a minor observation concerns the cover art. while the artist is a celebrated master in his field, the selection of the image for this particular novel has raised questions.
specifically, the identity of the woman depicted on the cover is unclear, and its connection to the story's events is not readily apparent. furthermore, it is considered somewhat unusual that a novel set on a pornographic film production site features a cover image with the most clothed female character among a series of new releases.
anticipation for the upcoming television series adaptation is high, suggesting the enduring appeal of the quarry character and his narrative world.
the reviewer expresses a strong endorsement for this novel, rating it highly.
this reader is progressing through the series chronologically and notes that this particular book offers a distinct departure from its predecessors. it leans into dark comedy, pushing boundaries further than previous installments.
however, the author masterfully maintains the established tone of the quarry character, presenting the events as a chaotic weekend in his life, rather than the more typical controlled chaos seen in other books.
the author himself acknowledges this shift in the novel's afterword. the overall impression is one of a funny, twisted, and ultimately rewarding quick read, leaving the reader eager to continue with the next book in the series.
as an admirer of the genre, this reviewer chooses to focus on the enjoyment derived from the work rather than a critical dissection.
the novel is described as the epitome of "fun lit," a category of literature that provides pure entertainment. the reader indicates a pattern of savoring the experience, delaying the conclusion to prolong the enjoyment, and then lamenting the end of the "fun." the author is encouraged to continue his work.
quarry has found a semblance of tranquility in his a-frame residence near lake geneva in southern wisconsin.
the narrative takes a significant turn when wilma is discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase, her neck broken. quarry immediately suspects his former associate, turner, is involved.
turner confirms he is on assignment, and the target is a porn director named jerry castile.
castile is in the process of filming a production at a nearby lodge owned by a local mobster. quarry, posing as a writer for oui magazine tasked with profiling jerry castile and his impending move into directing feature films with substantial budgets, infiltrates the lodge.
his presence, along with that of the production crew, including a past romantic acquaintance, is complicated when they all find themselves snowed in.
the majority of the novel unfolds within the confines of the lodge and the film set. the atmosphere is likened to an Agatha Christie mystery, with a group of individuals trapped in a confined, inescapable environment.
as in classic whodunit scenarios, bodies begin to accumulate. the mystery lies in identifying the perpetrator, as suspicion could fall on any of the inhabitants.
the story is compelling, though the explicit nature of some of the sex scenes and murders may be confronting for certain readers.
the reviewer expresses a general fondness for all the quarry novels and looks forward to further releases from the publisher, both new and archival. the wisconsin setting, the local flavor, and the edgy narrative are particularly appreciated elements.
the protagonist, quarry, is presented as a unique and intriguing character, drawing comparisons to the spaghetti western anti-hero rather than a traditional noir figure.
this particular novel remains consistent with the series' established tone, portraying quarry as an amoral character who operates according to his own distinct code. a key element that garners reader sympathy is that quarry's victims are consistently portrayed as far more reprehensible than he is, echoing the moral ambiguity often found in Sergio Leone's westerns.
one reader found this particular review helpful.
upon discovering the availability of earlier works in the series, this reader felt compelled to acquire them, indicating a strong interest in the character's complete story arc. the reviews from other countries echo the sentiment of appreciation for the classic quarry character, with some suggesting that the books offer a superior experience to the television adaptation.
regardless, they are consistently described as fast-paced and enjoyable reads.
fans of the noir genre will find this work particularly appealing, appreciating its classic elements of mystery, intrigue, and the presence of a captivating female character often described with evocative imagery.
the context of an adult film set adds a layer of realism to the narrative, where the presence of unusual circumstances and individuals is, in a way, normalized within the story's world.