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Community cultural centers bring art and fun to many

CONSTRUCTION work on four community cultural centers in Jiading District's Malu, Jiangqiao, Anting and Xuhang towns is well under way, and they will be in use by the end of this year.

At present the district has seven community cultural centers in Jiading Town, Xincheng Road, Juyuan New Area, Zhenxin, Huangdu, Nanxiang and Waigang subdistricts.

Last year, more than 3,100 activities were held at the seven centers. The number of visitors reached 101,000. As well, the centers offered 259 training classes and lectures for 15,000 people.

Residents in the district can attend monthly performances, weekly lectures and daily activities.

On February 9, the Lantern Festival, Xi Songlin, a 60-year-old resident living at Juyuan New Area, took the lantern he made to the community cultural center.

"I was afraid I might have nothing to do after retirement," Xi said. "But there're a lot of things to do at the center and I come here frequently, such as looking after the plants, and learning calligraphy."

He used to live at the district's rural areas.

He has been enthusiastic about growing plants and calligraphy for a long time. He said he had few places to enjoy those hobbies and had to stay at home quietly working on his own in the past.

"There were no opportunities to learn from others and get better," he said. "But after moving to Juyuan, I have become one of those who go regularly to the center and participate in the activities."

Xi has joined bonsai club, as well as the calligraphy and painting club at the center. The bonsai he has made will go on display at a city exhibition. Inspired by him, other fans of potted landscape get together each week to exchange ideas and knowledge.

Mao Jianqiu, Xi's wife, likes singing and dancing. When the couple goes to the cultural center, they usually take their eight-year-old grandson. For the three of them, participating in the cultural center has become an essential part of their lives.

More and more residents like them are joining to cultivate their hobbies and make friends.

Guan Renhua, at the age of 70, is a "veteran" in the cultural circles. He is good at writing stories. To welcome the World Expo 2010 and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, he and his friends have created several songs with actions like "Waigang People Welcoming the World Expo," "Catching Up with Good Times" and "Road."

All the performers are residents from Waigang. Shen Caifang and Zhu Xiuzhen, both in their fifties, are leading actresses.

"Nowadays, many farmers from Waigang have been away from the farm work. They need more cultural activities, and we should try our best to cater to their needs," Guan said.

Although the community cultural center at Waigang has existed for less than a year, it is able to provide quality activities. Community cultural centers for Huating and the district's industrial zone are now being planned.


 

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