23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
ndustrial Silence: Abandoned Chlor-Alkali Factory

This photograph captures the interior of an abandoned chlor-alkali factory in Shanghai, highlighting the juxtaposition of geometric order and decay. The remaining industrial structures, pipes, and beams create a rhythm and symmetry that contrasts with the signs of abandonment and time’s erosion. The image evokes a sense of quiet solitude and industrial beauty, celebrating the aesthetics of decay and the structured complexity of former production spaces.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Shanghai, China
Camera: NIKON Z 30
Copyright: © Nanncie Zhu