Shenzhen gets in tune with cultural ambitions

Group launched

Eight public pianos have been positioned in Huaqiangbei, and in addition to students, they are played by people in a wide range of jobs on their way home from work.

Some people come to Huaqiangbei to play the instruments, as they don't have a piano at home, while others feel they can perform in the area without any constraints.

When Lu Xuefeng, a 50-year-old housewife, discovered the public pianos, she visited the area every night to play them. She said she could "contribute what she has left" by playing in Huaqiangbei.

Lu decided to launch a WeChat group, "Romantic Piano Night in Huaqiangbei," which now has about 350 members. The group acts as a community where piano enthusiasts from different places come together to organize gatherings and other events.

Starting with just 20 people, the group once had as many as 400 members. It enables members to connect with each other, share their progress in practicing the piano, discuss challenges they face, and plan pieces to perform at gatherings.

Lu said, "Playing the piano on the street brings back memories of my youth," adding that it also provides the elderly with the chance to connect with the younger generation and become part of the vibrant city life in Shenzhen.

Hua Jian, a professor at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said it is important to cultivate individuals through culture.

He added that culture plays a fundamental role in shaping people's inner spiritual strength, inspires a forward-looking vitality in the city, provides a benchmark for its future direction, fuels innovative energy in urban development, and fosters broad cultural exchanges among people.

Hua said the Guidelines of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Shenzhen in Building a Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics put forward five strategic positions for the city to create a model for a modern socialist country, one of which is an urban civilization model.

"Under the guidelines, Shenzhen should leave a distinct mark on urban civilization in terms of cultural significance, industry, services, communication, and trade," Hua said.

"It is vital for the city to understand and harness its appeal, creativity, productivity, service capabilities and cultural influence to take the lead in shaping a modern urban civilization that showcases the prosperity of socialist culture."

He suggested that Shenzhen give priority to strengthening good cultural governance to create an open and inclusive environment that promotes a better life for residents.

"It is crucial to ensure that all residents can enjoy the benefits of urban civilization and have access to a diverse cultural experience in Shenzhen," Hua said.

"By fostering a rich and vibrant cultural landscape and an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, the city can enhance residents' quality of life."

Hua also emphasized the importance of improving cultural infrastructure and organizing a wide range of cultural activities to meet residents' diverse needs.

Ye Ziyu, Liu Yangjiadi, Yan Xinyi and Wu Baorong contributed to this story.