Duolun Road
Encyclopedia
Duolun Road is a street
in Shanghai
, China
.
of Shanghai. With a length of 550 meters, the L-shaped road's both ends were joined to the prosperous North Sichuan Road
near Hongkou Park and Hongkou Stadium. The road today is a famous pedestrian street for tourism and commerce.
Duolun Road was built by the Municipal Committee of Shanghai, which was at that time the construction administration of the Shanghai International Settlement
. However the road was located outside the international settlement. Such events often happened in the semi-colonized Shanghai, which was called "constructing the roads beyond the settlement area"(越界筑路). At that time, the road was named Darroch(窦乐安) after a British missionary, who went to China and met with the emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty
. It was in 1920s and 1930s when the road met its golden time. A lot of writers and social elites lived there, which made the area vibrant with thoughts and literature. Not until 1943, was the road changed to the name "Duolun"(多伦) used today, by the government of the Republic of China
(1912-1949). In the end of the 20th century , the road was turned into a pedestrian street for its cultural influence and commercial potential by the government of the People's Republic of China
(1949-). Duolun Road is no doubt a historic road which witnessed the modernization of Shanghai.
(鲁迅), Guo Moruo
(郭沫若), Mao Dun
(茅盾), Ye Shengtao
(叶圣陶) and Wangzaoshi(王造时), as well as those members of the influential "Association of Left-wing writers" (左翼作家联盟) like Dinglin (丁玲), Shating (沙汀) and Quqiubai (瞿秋白). Also lived there certain amount of governors or politicians like H. H. Kung
(孔祥熙), Bai Chongxi
(白崇禧), Tangenbo (汤恩伯) and Chenyi (陈仪).
Duolun Road is also an epitome of historic architecture of the last century in Shanghai. The Islamic-style house of Kongxiangxi was elegant building along the road. The residence of Tangenbo is of a neoclassic French-style which was once popular in the city. Built by Chinese architect, the local church "Hongde Tang" (鸿德堂) was in a mixed-style of east and west. The former campus of "the art university of China” (中华艺术大学) in traditional style was also the commemorated place where the "association of left-wing writers" was founded. In the surrounding blocks, the dense Lilong (里弄) housing is the most significant and typical urban texture of old Shanghai.
(Duolun MOMA) among the project. It was in the late 1999 that the first step of the project was realized and the street became open and pedestrian. Nowadays Duolun Road has been again an attractive place, especially for the tourists, reminding others of its historical value.
Street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Location
Duolun Road was built in 1911 and located in Hongkou DistrictHongkou District
Hongkou District is a northern district of Shanghai proper, People's Republic of China. It has a land area of and population of 799,700 as of 2001.It is the location of the Astor House Hotel, Broadway Mansions, Lu Xun Park and the Lu Xun memorial....
of Shanghai. With a length of 550 meters, the L-shaped road's both ends were joined to the prosperous North Sichuan Road
North Sichuan Road (Shanghai)
North Sichuan Road is a significant street in Shanghai, China, being one of the busiest and main shopping streets.-Orientation:The North Sichuan Road is a significant street in Shanghai, financial center of China. It's an important commercial street in central Shanghai, and also the most...
near Hongkou Park and Hongkou Stadium. The road today is a famous pedestrian street for tourism and commerce.
History
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
. However the road was located outside the international settlement. Such events often happened in the semi-colonized Shanghai, which was called "constructing the roads beyond the settlement area"(越界筑路). At that time, the road was named Darroch(窦乐安) after a British missionary, who went to China and met with the emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. It was in 1920s and 1930s when the road met its golden time. A lot of writers and social elites lived there, which made the area vibrant with thoughts and literature. Not until 1943, was the road changed to the name "Duolun"(多伦) used today, by the government of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(1912-1949). In the end of the 20th century , the road was turned into a pedestrian street for its cultural influence and commercial potential by the government of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(1949-). Duolun Road is no doubt a historic road which witnessed the modernization of Shanghai.
Celebrities
In the early 20th century, there lived a lot of famous writers and celebrities in the little area around Duolun Road. Among them were reputable writers like Lu XunLu Xun
Lu Xun or Lu Hsün , was the pen name of Zhou Shuren , one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century. Considered by many to be the leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in baihua as well as classical Chinese...
(鲁迅), Guo Moruo
Guo Moruo
Guo Moruo , courtesy name Dingtang , was a Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official from Sichuan, China.-Family history:Guo, originally named Guo Kaizhen, was born on November 10 or 16, in the small town of Shawan...
(郭沫若), Mao Dun
Mao Dun
Mao Dun was the pen name of Shen Dehong , a 20th century Chinese novelist, cultural critic, and journalist. He was also the Minister of Culture of China from 1949 to 1965. He is currently renowned as one of the best realist novelists in the history of modern China...
(茅盾), Ye Shengtao
Ye Shengtao
Ye Shengtao was a prominent author, educator and publisher. He was one of the founders of the Association for Literary Studies , the first literature association during the May Fourth Movement in China....
(叶圣陶) and Wangzaoshi(王造时), as well as those members of the influential "Association of Left-wing writers" (左翼作家联盟) like Dinglin (丁玲), Shating (沙汀) and Quqiubai (瞿秋白). Also lived there certain amount of governors or politicians like H. H. Kung
H. H. Kung
K'ung Hsiang-hsi , often known as Dr. H. H. Kung, was a wealthy Chinese banker and politician in the early 20th century. He was highly influential in determining the economic policies of the KMT government in the 1930s and 1940s...
(孔祥熙), Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi , , also spelled Pai Chung-hsi, was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and a prominent Chinese Nationalist Muslim leader. He was of Hui ethnicity and of the Muslim faith...
(白崇禧), Tangenbo (汤恩伯) and Chenyi (陈仪).
Architecture
Regeneration and nowadays
In the late part of 20th century, with degrading infrastructures and low-income residents, Duolun Road became a more forgettable and less attractive place. In order to make the area revive, the local government launched a project of regeneration in the end of the century. The project in 1998 was to conserve and repair the historic buildings and turn them into museums, galleries, cafes or art shops. In the project the local infrastructure was to be upgraded and some cultural elements like sculptures added to the new pedestrian street. The site of former events and former residence of the celebrities would be made more accessible and open to the public. There was also a modern museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
(Duolun MOMA) among the project. It was in the late 1999 that the first step of the project was realized and the street became open and pedestrian. Nowadays Duolun Road has been again an attractive place, especially for the tourists, reminding others of its historical value.