On the first Saturday of every month, experts, celebrities and old timers gather at 393 Wukang Road to tell stories and reminisce about Shanghai’s history and culture. Xu Wei listens in.

On a stage decorated like a 1930s Shanghai drawing room, a saxophonist plays a little jazz, artists sing songs of the 1930s and a professional storyteller regales the audience with tales of old Shanghai.

This is the setting for a monthly storytelling salon on Wukang Road, one of Shanghai’s most famous old cultural streets, lined with European-style buildings and phoenix trees. It’s a short, tranquil street between Huaihai Road M. and Huashan Road in Xuhui District, and it was home to many celebrities, writers, patriots, businesspeople and wealthy expatriates. The street has witnessed the vicissitudes of Shanghai, and that’s what the storytelling sessions are all about.

On the first Saturday of every month, a free salon is held at 393 Wukang Road, the lobby of Xuhui Old House Art Center. It starts at around 1:30pm. The upcoming one is on October 5.

It’s all in Chinese, some in Shanghai dialect.

The salon was launched in February.

“We could make a big profit if the property was simply rented out as a commercial club,” says Shen Xuqing, chief of the Xuhui Tourism Information Center. “But what is more important is to preserve our cultural heritage and improve people’s understanding of Shanghai, a city of wonder and legends.”

The garden villa is the former residence of Huang Xing (1874-1916), one of the leaders of the 1911 Revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Speakers have included many celebrities and experts, including film actor Liang Boluo, writer Chun Zi, voice artist Song Huaiqiang and renowned magician Zhou Liangtie.

Nora Song, an office worker in her mid-30s, traveled from the northern part of the city to attend the salon on September 7. The opening performance of saxophone music and old-time hit songs delighted her.

“The stage is decorated as an old-fashioned living room with classic furniture. Watching and listening to nostalgic songs takes me back in time,” says Song, one of around 200 in the audience, both Chinese and expats.

Actor Liang Boluo told the salon earlier this month about working nearby at 395 Wukang Road, the site of Shanghai Film Studio Actors Troupe in the 1990s. The building earlier was the Institute of Radium and Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Beiping.

That house was a natural film set.

“Many movie scenes were shot in the building,” said Liang. Acting classes were also held there and stars such as Joan Chen studied there, he said.

At the session earlier this month professional storyteller Gong Li delivered a vivid and humorous introduction to the history and cultural heritage of Wukang Road.

After the session, a guide took visitors on a stroll along Wukang Road, including stops at famous buildings.

The light-hearted salon has been well received among locals, expats and tourists, says Xuhui tourism info center chief Shen. The tourism bureau is an organizer of the story salon.

“The way our speakers share the stories of Wukang Road is very compelling and interesting,” Shen says. “That’s because many stories are based on their personal experiences. Some of them have a strong affinity with the road. Some were born in the neighborhood and had a lot of fun on the road when they were children.”

At an earlier event, voice artist Song Huaiqiang and his 94-year-old aunt Lin Juezhen described their memories of Wukang Road.

“When I was a child, my friends and I loved to play football and badminton on this elegant and tranquil road,” Song said. “We were impressed by the phoenix trees and Western-style villas. It’s a favorite place for artists and photographers.”

Lin said the old street was a very friendly neighborhood.

The road, around one-kilometer-long, was built in 1907 by an American missionary John Ferguson, and was named Ferguson Road after him. He constructed the short road to make it easier for his students and colleagues to get to Nanyang Public School. In the 1930s, it was renamed Wukang Road.

All the buildings and villas on the road are in European, Art Deco and modified Chinese style.

The road is a famous residential area. Since the 1930s, many political figures, artists, writers, celebrities and merchants have lived there. They include Soong Ching-ling, wife of Dr Sun Yat-sen; famous singer and actress Zhou Xuan; and Ba Jin, one of China’s most revered writers.

In 2011, Wukang Road was recognized as one of China’s historical and cultural roads.

One of the most famous buildings, the Wukang Building, was designed by famous architect Ladislav Hudec and built in 1924. Roughly shaped like a ship’s prow, it was called the Normandie Apartments, after a World War I battleship.

Eileen Chang (1920-1995) used to visit the Spanish-style garden house on Wukang Road known as Hunan Villa. It was a residence of Zhou Fohai, an official of the puppet government led by Wang Jingwei. Chang said that’s where she learned the real story of female spy Zheng Ruping. Chang’s well-known novel “Lust, Caution” (1979) is based on the story.

The roadside garden villa at 210 Wukang Road is one of the most romantic buildings, known for its “Romeo’s Balcony,” where a Romeo could climb to meet his Juliet.

Shen, chief of Xuhui tourism information center, says the storytelling salons will become a regular cultural program.

Shanghai storytelling

Date: 1st Saturday of every month, 1:30pm (The upcoming event is on October 5, 1:30pm.)

Venue: Xuhui Old House Art Center, 393 Wukang Rd

Tel: 6433-5000 (Reservation is required.)

Admission: Free

Vibrant stroll down Wukang Road

During the National Day holiday, a tourism program titled “A Vibrant Stroll along Wukang Road” will highlight the city’s history, culture and international character.

People can visit Western-style buildings and villas, dine outdoors under phoenix trees, and attend a performance of “The Hollow,” adapted from Agatha Christie’s mystery novel of the same name featuring Hercule Poirot.

At various stops, experts will share stories about buildings and the neighborhood. At each stop, there is an introduction both in English and Chinese.

The program was launched last year and was well received by tourists and locals.

Date: October 3-5

Tickets: 350 yuan (includes dinner coupon and theater ticket)

Booking hotline: 6433-5000