Hongkou launches interactive 'red tourism' routes

Yao Yifan

Shanghai tourism authorities are taking an innovative approach to “red tourism” with interactive tours meant to attract young people to the city’s “red culture” and revolutionary history.

According to the Shanghai Tourism Administration, a range of new tours call for participants to complete tasks and “experience” historic events as they visit revolutionary sites.

Six in-depth “red tourism” routes were made available at the site of the Fourth National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Hongkou District yesterday morning.

Hongkou has 87 sites related with Communist revolutionary history, and the majority are located in a 2-square-kilometer area along Sichuan Road N. The new routes combine “red memory” with walking tours. Hired performers also introduce tasks and challenges to tourists.

All routes start from the congress site and together cover more than 40 destinations in Hongkou, including more than 20 culture sites which are open to visitors.

As they complete tasks assigned to them, tourists can appreciate the hardships of the early Communist struggle, follow the footsteps of renowned literary figures like Lu Xun and novelist Mao Dun, and experience the district’s history.

“The route is very interesting because unlike traditional walking tours, it involves a lot of fun tasks like finding clues hidden in exhibits and spotting the differences in pictures,” said Tom Li, a tour participant in his 20s. “I acquired much knowledge of China’s revolutionary history during the tour.”

“‘Red tourism’ is an inseparable part of Shanghai tourism,” said Shen Chao, director of the administration’s market management department. “Immersive experiences allow youngsters to better experience the glamour of ‘red tourism.’”

More “red tourism” tour routes will be unveiled in the future, the administration said.