Duolun Road

Duolun Road (simplified Chinese: 多伦路; traditional Chinese: 多倫路; pinyin: Duōlún Lù) is a street in Shanghai, China.

Location

Duolun Road was built in 1911 and located in Hongkou District 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.

History

210 Duolun Rd, former residence of Bai Chongxi

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.

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 Xun (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).

Architecture

Hongde Tang

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.

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 museum (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.

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