he first volume of the Songjiang Cultural Encyclopaedia was unveiled to the public on April 15th. It was presented to representatives of various circles at the launch ceremony.

The long history of Songjiang, a suburban district of Shanghai, makes it the cultural root of the city. A range of cultural projects are underway to both preserve and promote culture in Songjiang.

Covering both historic and current cultural phenomena, the encyclopaedia will be divided into 23 branches covering the cultural heritage and spiritual life of Songjiang people. A total of eight volumes with more than 10,000 entries will be completed in 2022, according to a report from Shanghai Xinmin Evening News. The first volume on the subject of folk culture contains more than 2,140 entries and 600,000 words. Hundreds of precious old photos add to the interest and value of the book.

“Compiling an encyclopaedia is a heavy responsibility. Publication of the first volume was an opportunity to talk about the cultural development of Songjiang New City,” said Lu Jun, the chief editor of the Songjiang Cultural Encyclopaedia.

Lu Jun introduced a series of cultural projects at the ceremony. Apart from the cultural encyclopaedia, historical records of Songjiang literature, drama, painting, calligraphy and poetry are being compiled, together with a brief history of Songjiang.

The Songjiang Culture Research Institute, established in 2019, is exploring Songjiang’s rich drama creation. It also provides a solid foundation for the cultural encyclopaedia and historical records. The institute gathers stories and resources from citizens and villagers, which are written up by local academic teams.

In addition, there will be an exhibition hall, showing the stories of famous and virtuous people in Songjiang. Lu Jun hopes it can inspire the young generation to carry forward the Songjiang cultural spirit. 

“Cultural values will determine the spiritual quality of Songjiang New City,” according to Lu Jun. Lu added that favourable policies will be issued to help about 100 cultural studios to attract more businesses.