Summary of Key Points
Taking advantage of the 9th Lu Xun Literature Award and the opening of the Shanghai Literature Museum, Hongkou District has made significant efforts to leverage the "Lu Xun IP." By creating two urban tours that connect history with the present, the district has upgraded old buildings and cultural sites related to Lu Xun, and promoted the micro-renovation of areas such as Shanyin Road and Xiangde Road. This transformation has turned cultural resources into attractions, not only bringing the old neighborhoods to life but also boosting the leisure and nighttime economies. In the future, the district plans to uncover more notable historical figures and use big data to optimize these updates, further enhancing the regional cultural competitiveness.
I. The Lu Xun IP as a "Traffic Magnet": Two Tours Connecting History and Trendiness
Hongkou District has created two cultural routes that showcase Lu Xun's life, work, and literary heritage:
- "Lu Xun Trail": Expanding from 6 sites in 2019 to 8 sites in 2025, these include Lu Xun's former residence, the former location of Neishan Bookstore, and the Memorial Hall of the Left-Wing League. These sites mark Lu Xun's final decade in Shanghai, offering a unique experience of "walking through Hongkou with Lu Xun."
- "Torch of New Voices, Road of Literature": Corresponding to the 7 awards of the Lu Xun Literature Award, this route includes interactive installations (such as the "Seed of Fire Tree" in front of the Memorial Hall of the Left-Wing League, whose illuminated pages represent "light of thought") and connects with modern attractions in North Bund (like the "Mr. Lu Xun" installation that allows for photos with the iconic landmarks of Lujiazui). Both routes share the Neishan Bookstore and the Memorial Hall of the Left-Wing League; the old route focuses on history, while the new route adds a creative element, allowing visitors to reminisce and take trendy photos.
II. Old Buildings "Renewed": Not Demolished, but Made to Speak for Themselves
Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, Hongkou District has renovated old buildings to make them accessible to the public:
- Former Site of the Woodcutting Workshop: Where Lu Xun taught woodcutting in 1931, it was recently reopened in August, now telling the story of China's woodcutting movement.
- Digital Reading Room of Lu Xun's Book Collection: Using digital technology, the collection of 6,000 books and manuscripts has been made accessible online, allowing visitors to experience Lu Xun's reading habits.
- Memorial Hall of the Left-Wing League: Temporarily opened during the Literature Week after renovation, the installation art in front of the hall has become a popular tourist attraction. These buildings are no longer just exhibits in a museum but have become interactive and experiential cultural spaces.
III. Micro-Renovation of Neighborhoods: Turning Old Alleys into Livable and Fun Spaces
The renovation of the Shanyin Road-Xiangde Road area is a prime example:
- Preserving the Past: The old residences in Dazhong New Village, where Lu Xun lived, have been restored to their original appearance, transformed into community centers, exhibition halls, and cafes, retaining the charm of old Shanghai while adding new functions.
- Improving Convenience: The "Xiangde Market" has been reopened, along with the construction of public toilets and benches, and traffic congestion in the narrow alleys has been alleviated, making life more convenient for residents.
- Connecting with Attractions: The renovated area is linked to Lu Xun Park and Tiantai Road, allowing visitors to combine a park visit with a stroll through the historic alleys, experiencing a blend of local charm and cultural heritage. This renovation focuses on small-scale improvements that make the old neighborhoods suitable for living and attractive to tourists.
IV. Culture Boosting the Economy: Leisure and Nighttime Economies Flourish with the "Lu Xun Boom"
These cultural initiatives have directly boosted the local economy:
- Around Lu Xun Park: Attractions like the "Wild Grass Pavilion" (resembling an open book) and the "Xuanyuan Youyue" (pen tip installation) have turned the park into a literary-themed park, attracting more visitors and boosting the businesses in nearby cafes and bookstores.
- North Bund Area: The award ceremony was held at the Youbang Grand Theatre, with nearby attractions like the Hongshufang (World Literature Lounge) and the "Riverbank Torch" installation at the Maritime Tower, adding an artistic and popular vibe to North Bund and stimulating nighttime activities (such as viewing the light installations and visiting bookstores).
- Overall Effect: The cultural IP has attracted visitors, who in turn have increased spending, activating the leisure and nighttime economies in the old neighborhoods, creating a positive cycle of "cultural attraction → increased consumption → regional prosperity."
V. Future Directions: Beyond Lu Xun, Uncovering More Cultural Treasures
Hongkou District's ambitions extend beyond Lu Xun:
- Discovering Other Figures: Historian Chen Zuen suggests marking the locations of other notable figures from the Sichuan North Road area (such as Mao Dun and Guo Moruo) to bring more stories to life through old buildings.
- Using Big Data for Optimization: Research from Shanghai University indicates that areas with high emotional significance (like those related to Lu Xun) attract more visitors. Big data will be used to identify such locations for more targeted urban renovations. In other words, the success of the Lu Xun IP will be applied to other cultural resources, making Hongkou a district where every corner has a story and every step offers a new attraction.
In summary, Hongkou District has successfully transformed historical resources into tangible attractions and economic drivers by leveraging the Lu Xun IP. This approach not only preserves the memory of old Shanghai but also revitalizes its neighborhoods, demonstrating how culture can power urban development.