By love-89.com On September 30, the “Colors of the Earth: Rural Reading Journey” event kicked off the 2024 New Era Rural Reading Season in Shanghai. This significant occasion marked the official launch of the city’s first twelve model rural libraries, blending a rich literary culture with the vibrant community life. These libraries not only act as social hubs for rural residents and entrepreneurial youth but also serve as cultural and recreational spaces for weekend visitors.
Shanghai currently hosts over 1,300 rural libraries and various public cultural spaces within its villages, drawing from a wealth of red culture, Haipai culture, and Jiangnan culture to organize a diverse range of reading-centered cultural activities. Each of the twelve newly established model libraries offers distinct features: some promote a relaxed rural lifestyle, while others introduce innovative “smart audio libraries,” and some function as community cultural centers.
In Pujiang Town, on the outskirts of Shanghai, an innovative “Rural Library+” model is taking shape, continuously enhancing the functions and reach of these libraries. According to Wang Yina, director of the Cultural and Sports Development Center in Pujiang, this agricultural town is combining library services with film screenings and cultural tourism to provide cultural benefits to the community. For example, the “Rural Library + Film” initiative at the newly established Baihua Cinema allows residents to enjoy movies in their neighborhood. Meanwhile, the “Rural Library + Culture and Tourism” model in Ge Xin Village seamlessly blends public cultural services with tourism, enriching visitors’ experiences by showcasing the essence of rural life.
On the same day, the “Flower Field Pavilion” was inaugurated as the first city library established within a village in Minhang District, catering to the surrounding areas involved in the rural revitalization initiative.
Looking ahead, the Cultural and Sports Development Center in Pujiang plans to replicate and promote successful practices by developing more “Rural Library + Urban Library” and “Rural Library + New Media” models to further integrate cultural, sports, tourism, and business sectors. Additionally, the Shanghai Municipal Publicity Department has introduced digital reading resources from the “Book-Scented Shanghai” citizen reading micro-platform into both rural and urban reading spaces.
The day’s festivities continued with the launch of the 2024 Minhang District “Four Seasons Village Evening” autumn event, themed “Happy Pujiang, Celebrating a Bountiful Harvest.” This event featured a blend of outstanding performances and unique local folk customs, showcasing high-quality agricultural products and tourism offerings from excellent cooperatives and enterprises in the region, highlighting the plentiful autumn harvest.
The 2024 Minhang District “Four Seasons Village Evening” included three segments: “Abundant Beginnings: Autumn Rhythm,” “Vibrant Colors: Ode to the Countryside,” and “Bountiful Years: Art Showcase.” Attendees were treated to an array of performances, including traditional New Music, Shanghai dialect songs, magic acts, and acrobatics, all celebrating the joy of the harvest. These performances not only reflected villagers’ hopes for a better life but also vividly showcased the charm of local culture.
That evening, the original Shanghai opera performance “The Moon is Brighter in the Homeland” received enthusiastic applause. Performed in the Shanghai opera style, the play tells stories set in Pujiang Town. Yang Hanlin, chair of the Pujiang Literary Federation, mentioned that since the 1950s, Shanghai opera has been a vital cultural activity in the area, with every village having its own small troupe. The strong local culture has resulted in many middle-aged and elderly residents being able to sing Shanghai operas, and the Pujiang Literary Federation offers popular classes for children and parents alike. Each year, they strive to create and perform new opera works, aiming to innovate and attract younger audiences. Yang also revealed plans for future collaborations with professional troupes to enhance the transmission of Shanghai opera.
The event aimed to shine a spotlight on rural resources while cultivating a unique cultural brand for Pujiang. Attendees experienced the launch of the “All Things Create” festival, featuring market stalls that celebrated the “Guochao” trend and “Xiezhi” vibe. This interactive approach allowed the public to engage closely with local products, promoting agricultural excellence and tourism in Pujiang while helping to showcase the region’s distinctive offerings to a wider audience.