China Famous Celebrity Former Residence Study Tour Museum · Shanghai Volume · Behind the Neon

Author: Read Pictures Era
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: 10 historical and cultural cities; 260 influential figures in China; 300 weathered old houses; 2,000 precious exclusive photographs—creating a deep cultural exploration space for you. Currently, a "cultural heritage fever" is on the rise. Imperial palaces and mausoleums, Buddhist and Taoist grottoes and temples, scholar-official gardens and pavilions, and ordinary folk's ancient towns and villages have all received unprecedented attention. But amidst this buzz, have we missed anything? China's 5,000-year uninterrupted social development and cultural inheritance, reborn after the hardships of the late Qing Dynasty, relies on what kind of strength? And why has it been so tumultuous? Of course, it's not due to divine favor or disfavor, but rather the efforts or shortcomings of "people." At the forefront of major historical eras, "celebrities"—whether political and military figures or cultural luminaries—are a group that plays a significant, even decisive, role. Once elevated as representatives or symbols of a group, their individual lives are no longer just personal journeys and experiences. Their aspirations, actions, and moral character, as well as their joys, sorrows, and subtle thoughts, all participate in shaping China's identity, making them the key reasons for China being what it is today. They are the core and soul that one must deeply explore to understand China. Though these individuals are gone, the old houses they once lived in and the objects they used, though worn and faded by time, still retain their essence and carry dense cultural codes. And these unique and precious cultural heritage sites are scattered among the ordinary streets and alleys of cities, likely right around us, waiting to be discovered, experienced, and interpreted.
To this end, China Pictorial Publishing House has specially launched the "China Famous Celebrity Former Residence Study Series." This series has three distinctive features: First, it is the first comprehensive survey, compilation, and documentation of the cultural landscape of "celebrity former residences" in the publishing industry. This series selects ten cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Xiamen, Kunming, and Shaoxing. These cities span east to west and north to south, all being historical and cultural hubs, holding special significance in modern Chinese history, and are also cities where celebrity former residences are most concentrated and relatively well-preserved. While some of these cities have previously published books on celebrity former residences, they are unrelated and primarily local historical records. In contrast, this series stands out for its completeness and coherence. The political, economic, and cultural status of these ten cities, as well as their urban personalities, are distinctly unique. The groups of celebrities they attract are diverse, and so are the appearances of their former residences.
Beijing, a 700-year-old imperial capital, naturally attracts celebrities from all walks of life, most of whom live in the city's countless hutongs. These hutongs and siheyuan (traditional courtyard houses) are no longer ordinary residential areas but form a vast cultural "web," filled with an ethereal literary atmosphere that makes one forget the hustle and bustle of the streets. Shanghai is a microcosm and epitome of modernization and modernization in China. Its celebrity former residences are far more than the "love nests" of comprador tycoons and famous women; they hold deeper and more substantial meanings. Guangzhou, a city at the forefront of reforms since modern times, has continuously sent new ideas and figures inland and northward (whether reformists or revolutionaries). Nanjing is both a traditional cultural center and the capital of the Republic of China; Hangzhou, with its beautiful mountains and clear waters and comfortable living, has become a relatively pure southern cultural hub; Shaoxing is where many influential figures across the country spent their childhoods; Qingdao and Xiamen, two beautiful coastal cities, have attracted numerous cultural celebrities due to unique circumstances, making them "temporary" cities. Xiamen, in particular, has a strong Minnan regional character; Kunming comforted celebrities during the turbulent years of the War of Resistance Against Japan and also earned itself a precious cultural heritage. Tianjin is special—here, the celebrities who reside are mostly "antiheroes." The arenas of power and career struggles are often in Beijing, while Tianjin serves as their "backstage," where they manipulate from behind the scenes, waiting to rise again or simply survive. This has given rise to a unique "retired official" culture.
The second feature is the ideological depth, personal experience, and engaging nature of the series. The celebrities selected for this series are primarily modern figures from the late Qing Dynasty to the present, spanning politics, economics, and military fields, with a particular focus on intellectuals and cultural figures. The authors are over a dozen doctoral and master's students from renowned universities such as Fudan University, Nanjing University, the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Xiamen University, Yunnan University, Hebei University, and Qingdao University. As modern youth passionate about Chinese history and culture, they have personally visited and researched celebrity former residences in their respective cities. This is not just a simple tour but a deep "cultural" reflection. The celebrity former residences in this series are not just listed by street addresses but are categorized and explained based on the celebrities' identities, personalities, and temperaments, offering a structurally innovative approach. The content includes descriptions of the current state of the former residences, introductions to the celebrities' lives, their achievements or legends during their time there, and their reflections and critiques of history. For great figures or masters, the series not only commemorates their accomplishments, spirit, and demeanor but also attempts to engage in an equal dialogue with their souls, exploring the ordinary aspects of their lives. For those deemed "antiheroes," the series avoids hasty judgments of right or wrong, instead reflecting on their destinies and roles within the historical context. For some figures overlooked by official histories, the series strives to present a more authentic and diverse view of history.
Due to the involvement of ten cities, a surprising result has emerged: some of the most influential celebrities have left their residences in several of these cities. Though they are discussed separately, linking the entire series together allows a clear view of their life trajectories. For example, Lu Xun was born in Shaoxing, gained fame in Beijing, stayed temporarily in Xiamen, had a "" in Guangzhou, and spent his final years in Shanghai. Almost all the old houses he lived in are featured in the series, offering a unique perspective to create a special "biography" of this cultural giant. Figures like Soong Ching-ling,, Kang Youwei, and Li Shu also share similar stories. This should be another highlight of the series.
The third feature is the invaluable historical materials and certain practicality. Most of the celebrity former residences featured in the series are not open to the public. The more than 2,000 photographs taken on-site provide a substantial record. Thus, the series is not only a faithful chronicler but also an advocate for greater concern and protection of cultural heritage. While this is a human geography book, not a travel guide, it still includes detailed "tips" and distribution maps of former residences in each city, offering assistance to those interested in and fond of celebrity former residences.
These ten books of the "China Famous Celebrity Former Residence Study Series" represent a grand cultural project. They are not an end but a good beginning. These ten cities cannot be said to encompass all of China's celebrity former residences. In cities like Fuzhou, Suzhou, Wuhan, Chongqing, and Changsha, equally fascinating cultural landscapes still await discovery and recognition.
A neon lamp (Neon Lamp) is the totem of "Big Shanghai." The word "Neon" is pronounced as "ni hong" in Shanghai dialect. From the natural rainbow to neon, from nature to artificiality, from natural light to electricity, the poetic charm of ancient Chinese skies has thus transformed into a Western scene brought by the night of Shanghai. So many people are drawn here by the allure of dreams, only to be lured away by other illusions. Yet, this place remains Shanghai—the most special stretch of coastline in ancient China. If one stays here, they cannot live within the neon. What truly anchors their mundane and ordinary lives, embracing their ideals and dreams, is always behind the neon.