Anchor calls for appreciation of Jing'an history

In a talk held on Monday evening, renowned anchor Tao Chun said that learning about Jing'an District's alleyways can help office workers appreciate its history and charms.

This year, as a political adviser of the district, Tao proposed that more historical sites, including those being used as government offices, should open to the public. A special fund should be established and modern technologies should be applied to better preserve old buildings, he added.

“What makes Jing’an? Both its modern buildings and historical sites,” he said.

He mentioned the Xiwang residential compound on Fengxian Road. Xiwang is a traditional Shanghai lane neighborhood, where Chinese and Western influences mingle. It contains 12 Queen Anne-style buildings located on interconnecting lanes.

Now, the compound contains the Xiwang Garden Lane Museum, which is the city’s first museum devoted to lilong, or neighborhood lanes.

The history of the area is revealed on signs and old photos in the museum. Residents loaned family treasures to the museum, including antique waist drums and toys from the 1930s.

Moreover, Jing’an has 99 major “red” revolutionary sites, which can remind today’s youngsters of the country's revolutionary history.