Shanghai officials have completed one of China’s largest building moves by shifting a 7,500‑ton historic shikumen complex to its original site. Workers employed 432 hydraulic‑powered robotic legs that lifted and carried the structure at about 10 meters per day. The project marks a major success in preserving local heritage while making room for new underground spaces.
The shikumen building, part of the Huayanli complex in the Zhangyuan district, dates back more than 140 years. City planners began a protective expropriation plan in 2018 and moved over 1,100 families from 170 units across 42 historic structures. They aimed to safeguard the area’s character while updating its infrastructure. To save the landmark, engineers chose to shift the entire 4,030‑square‑meter complex instead of demolishing it.
To carry out the move, crews installed 432 robotic legs under the building’s steel beams. Each leg used a hydraulic piston to raise and lower its foot. Computers controlled the pistons to keep the building level as it rolled forward. At a steady pace of 10 meters per day, the robots steered the massive load along temporary tracks. In eight weeks, they covered the full 760‑meter distance back to the complex’s original footprint.
Hydraulic actuation systems gave the robots the power they needed. Engineers relied on a design similar to the HyQ quadruped robot, which uses fluid under high pressure to drive its joints and cool its parts. The hydraulic fluid acts like blood in a body, carrying heat away from the pumps and valves. This method beats electric drives in both power density and force control. It also keeps the system light enough to move quickly, even when carrying heavy loads.
Experts praise the use of robotic legs for such tasks. Burkhard Erne of Moog Inc. said fluid‑powered motion systems make smooth, precise moves. He explained that robots can handle rough or narrow paths where cranes cannot fit. In Zhangyuan’s tight alleys, traditional gear would have risked damage to nearby homes. Instead, compact robots carried out the work without disturbing the walls or roads around them.
The temporary relocation cleared the way for a three‑story underground development beneath the site. Workers will build 53,000 square meters of cultural and commercial space, including parking for over 100 vehicles and direct links to Metro Lines 2, 12, and 13. City planners say the new facilities will bring jobs and services to local residents. They also promise that the shikumen streets above ground will look much as they did a century ago.
Shikumen houses combine Chinese courtyard traditions with Western architectural touches. They first appeared in the 1860s and peaked during the 1910s. Late‑period examples feature narrow frontages, bright brick lintels, and small pediments above their doors. By 2003, Shanghai had demolished almost 38 million square kilometers of old housing, often erasing shikumen rows to clear space for towers. In 2009, the city finally granted the style protected status.
Since then, planners have tried four main preservation tactics. The “Bugao Lane” model relies on government funds to restore relics. The “Tianzifang” plan focuses on turning lanes into arts districts. Reconstruction efforts keep original layouts but update interiors. Projects like Xintiandi preserve facades while rebuilding inside. All of these aim to hold on to the city’s past while allowing growth.
In Zhangyuan, officials used building information models and 3D point‑cloud scans to map every inch of the complex. They also brought in robots with folding arms that fit through 1.2‑meter‑wide passages to clear soil and position track segments. These tools helped avoid damage to both the heritage structures and the surrounding lanes.
Shanghai’s robotic relocation sets a high bar for urban renewal. It shows how blending old‑fashioned engineering and modern machine systems can save heritage sites. City planners hope this method will guide future projects in China and beyond. In the end, the shikumen complex stands ready to welcome visitors again, just as it did more than a century ago.
