Shanghai’s well-known Lu Xun Park is always a delightful place to relax in and take a leisurely stroll. The park was constructed in 1896 from a shooting range. More than a century later, numerous alterations are to be seen, such as the creation of a hill, a lake and a football stadium.
Here the visitor will gain a glimpse into the typical lifestyle of the people of Shanghai. If you arrive here on a pleasant weekend day, it will be possible to see clusters of retirees dancing out in the open and singing classic Chinese songs! Members of the older generations are also seen playing badminton in the courts and enjoying the various activities at the clubhouse. Others pursue interests like Tai Chi, enjoying their leisure hours to the utmost. Their children and grandchildren are to be seen playing football, flying kites and racing remote-controlled cars and boats. Many couples gather to enjoy a session of ballroom style dancing to Whitney Houston covers played on panpipes. Others bring their own instruments and raise their voices in a spell of enthusiastic karaoke. There is a discernible sense of fun and enjoyment in the air, with an ambience of carefree revelry.
The park takes its name from a famous writer who is esteemed as China’s foremost modern writer. Lu Xun was born in 1881, in the Qing Dynasty’s latter years. He developed a unique writing style as he expressed his dissatisfaction and anger at the national situation in his day. Lu Xun lamented the weak standing of China amongst the powers of the world. He was also highly critical of traditional Confucian principles.
The Memorial Hall at the park is always worth a visit, with its spacious entrance hall and airy atrium. You will also find an audio-visual display of the writer’s life and work, as well as a realistic wax creation of Lu Xun with several of his youthful protégés. For those genuinely interested in sampling his works, there is a selection of the writer’s works translated into many different languages.
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