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Xujiahui’s history presented in musical show
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Xujiahui, named for ancient Chinese scientist and official Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), is an area rich with cultural and historical flavor.
The area is considered one of the places that gave birth to Shanghai culture, characterized as dynamic, stylish, East-meets-West, and tolerant to other cultures.
Xujiahui has put together an original multimedia musical show. The show, the Cosmopolitan Zi-Ka-Wei original musical (Zi-ka-wei is the name of Xujiahui in Shanghai dialect), is performed in Chinese and designed to teach people more about the area and its history.
Well-known child ballads in Shanghai dialect, a hilarious talk show, creative storytelling, modern dance and magic are featured in the performance.
The show includes a mini-drama about the history of Xujiahui and the friendship of Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci, an Italian missionary who spread Western culture in China. Xu worked with him in translating Euclid’s classical scientific work “Elements,” and Xu also wrote many books and treatises.
The one-hour show premiered in mid-September, and while it’s expected to be a regular show, officials have not yet decided on a schedule.
Last October, a 2.4-square-kilometer zone in the bustling area was approved as a 4A national tourist attraction, which is the next-to-top rating in importance, tours and other categories. Entitled “Xujiahui Yuan,” or Xujiahui Origin, it is the city’s first open metropolitan tourism scenic spot.
In October, academic workshops and other public events will be organized for the site’s first anniversary celebration.
The tourism area also boasts a lot of historical and cultural sites such as Xujiahui Cathedral, Xujiahui Library, Xujiahui Observatory, Tushanwan Museum, Xu Guangqi’s Tomb and Memorial Hall and Xujiahui Park.
Xujiahui was originally at the junction of the Puhuitang, Zhaojiabang and Licongjing rivers, which no longer exist. Most of the area was once the residential property of Xu.
The area, mainly inhabited by Xu’s descendants, later took the name Xujiahui, meaning “property of the Xu family at the junction of rivers.” In 1847, the Catholic Diocese of Southern China established the Jesuits there. Following that, many organizations were founded to promote science and technology, culture, education, publishing, charity and Western religions.
For more information on Xujiahui events, visit www.xjh.sh.cn/home, available in Chinese or English.
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