Duolun Lu Cultural Street, Shanghai 多伦路
A short way south of Lu Xun Park and the Lu Xun Memorial Museum in the Hongkou district of Shanghai, Duolun Lu (Duolun Road) has been transformed since 1998 into a pedestrianized "culture street" full of historic buildings, cafes, tea houses and shops.
History
The original Darroch Rd had become by the 1920's and 1930's a mainly Japanese enclave in the International Settlement of colonial Shanghai. Japanese buildings that once stood in this district of Shanghai included a barracks, the Uchiyama Bookstore and even a so-called "Comfort Station."
It was here that writers and artists such as Lu Xun, Ding Ling, Guo Moruo and Mao Dun - many of them members of the League of Leftist Writers - chose to live and created a vibrant cultural and literary centre alongside a number of Kuomintang officers and officials. The League of Leftist Writers Museum off the street on Lane 201 is dedicated to the modernist writers who ushered in a new and simplified literary style, much influenced and appreciated at the time in the West.
Restoration
After falling into neglect the historic street and its buildings were restored in the late 1990's. Metal statues of Lu Xun and Guo Moruo have been placed on the boulevard and Duolun Road is now a pleasant and interesting place to stroll and shop.
Duolun Museum of Modern Art
Landmarks to look out for include the modern Duolun Museum of Modern Art (Tel: 6587 2530) at 27 Duolun Road.
Also of interest are the Hong De Temple built in 1928 as the Great Virtue Christian Church with a Chinese-style roof at 59 Duolun Road, the 18.5 meter-tall Xi Shi Zhong Lou bell tower at 119 and the Moorish Kong Residence built in 1924 at 250 Duolun Road.
Popular cafes and shops include the Old Film Cafe at 123 Duolun Road which shows old Chinese movies from the 1920's and 1930's. There are a number of antique shops and also street sellers hawking rather dubious-looking Chinese medicines and animal parts.
Access - Getting There
The nearest subway station is Dongbaoxing Road Station one stop south of Hongkou Stadium on Line 3.
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