On October 18th, Shanghai’s first immersive cultural experience venue, “Huxiang Space,” opened to the public. Located in Hainshan Village, Huinan Town of Pudong New District, this 120-square-meter exhibition space encapsulates the rich history and traditional culture of the Nanhui region.
As I walked through the “Huxiang Space,” I was immediately drawn to a wall featuring traditional Nanhui dialect sayings, riddles, nursery rhymes, and folk songs. One standout element is the interactive game “Nanhui Dialect Challenge,” highlighting the significance of local dialect culture. It’s worth noting that Nanhui was previously a district in Shanghai that has since been integrated into Pudong New District.
The exhibition boasts four impressive cultural display areas, including a three-dimensional model of ancient Nanhui City, resin models of Pudong’s “Old Eight,” a simulated experience of salt-making titled “Boiling the Sea and Churning the Waves,” and an engaging game centered around rice culture. The display features traditional artifacts such as textiles, bamboo baskets, embroidery, and handcrafted shoes, showcasing the diversity and practicality of folk culture in the Pudong area.
In the folklore section, around 200 rare old photographs collected from the Shanghai Municipal Archives, Pudong Archives, and local historians capture the essence of rural life in Nanhui during the 1970s and 1980s. Additionally, a special exhibition titled “The Growth Journey of a Nanhui Child” features nostalgic items like hopscotch boards, wooden toy carts, and pencil boxes, illustrating the journey from childhood to adulthood in rural Pudong.
Another innovative highlight of “Huxiang Space” is its representation of the native flora and fauna of the region, dubbed “Original Shanghai.” The exhibit showcases illustrations of 25 common fish species and 30 bird species found in the old Nanhui area, along with about 200 specimens of local butterflies and beetles. A large aquarium provides a visual dive into the region’s biodiversity. In a remarkable effort, over 100 previously extinct native plant species have been reintroduced to the small garden area at “Huxiang Space,” complete with informative signage to educate visitors, especially children, about these plants.
The Huxiang Cultural Creative Promotion Center stated that the goal of “Huxiang Space” is to serve as a repository for preserving traditional Shanghai culture and revitalizing rural culture. They also aspire for it to become a spiritual home for the public, a place where urban residents can find poetry and a sense of belonging.
