Duolun Culture Street

Duolun Cultural Street was home to numerous aspiring writers and authors in the early 20th century; writers such as Mao Dun, Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and also Ding Ling. Today the street is lined with memorial museums, tea houses and galleries that seem at home in the area.

Duolun Street was constructed by the Municipal Committee of Shanghai, which was at that time was also the construction management of the Shanghai Global 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”. At that time, the road was named Darroch after a British missionary, who went to China and met with emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty.

It was in 1920s and 1930s when the road found its golden time. A lot of writers and social elites lived there which made the area were enriched with thoughts and literature. Not until 1943 was the road changed to the name "Duolun" which is 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. Duolun Street is no doubt an historic road representing the modernization of Shanghai.

Duolun Street is the epitome of historic architecture of the last century in the city. The Islamic-style houses were stylishly built along the street.

At the end of 20th century, with humiliating infrastructures and lower income residents, Duo lun Street became a more reminiscent and less attractive place. In order to revive the area, the government launched a plan of reconstruction in the last century. The project, started in 1998, was to repair the historic buildings and turn the buildings into galleries, museums, art shops or cafes. In the project, the local organizations were to upgrade some social statuses so as to decorate pedestrian road. The site of previous events and former house of the stars would be made most accessible and open to the public. There was also a new museum built in 1999. Currently Duo lun Street has begun toregain its attractive reputation, particularly for the travellers, reminding people of its history.