Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Shanghai Lu Xun Memorial Park
AO Edited

Lu Xun Memorial Park

The histories of modern Chinese literature and anti-Japanese resistance collide in this Shanghai park.

Shanghai, China

Added By
katielou106
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
A statue of Lu Xun, known as “The Father of Modern Chinese Literature,” at his namesake park.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
A gazebo on the artificial lake in Lu Xun Memorial Park   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
A sculpture of a book at Lu Xun’s memorial.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
The artificial lake at Lu Xun park.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Lu Xun Park, a large leafy public space in Shanghai, holds memorials to two important forces in Chinese history: the modern literary giant Lu Xun and resistance to Japanese occupation.  

Before it was named after “The Father of Modern Chinese Literature,” the park was known as Hongkou Park for the Hongkou district in which it sits. Lu Xun lived out the last years of his life nearby, having moved from Guangzhou to the International Settlement of Shanghai to seek refuge after the Kuomintang government began to purge leftist intellectuals and communist party members in the cities under their control.

Lu Xun's remains were buried in the park in 1956 to mark the 20th anniversary of his death.  The tomb of Lu Xun has an inscription of Mao Zedong's calligraphy.  Not to be outdone, Former Premier Zhou Enlai and Xu Guangping, Lu Xun’s widow, planted trees on either side of the tomb.

Tucked in another corner of the park is the Lu Xun Memorial Hall, which holds a collection of his belongings and a small shop selling reprints of his works.

The park is also famous for a rebellious act against the invading Japanese. By January 1932, the Japanese military occupied much of the Hongkou district, and had built a fortified navy base nearby.  When Japan invaded China in 1937, much of the Battle of Shanghai was focused on the Japanese navy headquarters.  Hongkou remained under Japanese control until the end of WWII. Some of the several hundred cherry trees found in Lu Xun Memorial park are trees transplanted from Ueno Park in Tokyo.

April 1932 saw Yun Bong-gil, a Korean nationalist, kill or injure several high-ranking members of the Imperial Japanese Military who had gathered for Emperor Hirohito’s birthday celebrations at Hongkou park. At the end of the Japanese National Anthem, he threw a bottle bomb at the stage where the officials had gathered.

In 2003, a memorial hall dedicated to Yun Bong-gil was opened in the park.  After renovation, it was reopened in 2015 during a ceremony marking the 83rd anniversary of the bombing.

Related Tags

Park Parks Activism Literature Memorials China

Know Before You Go

Luxun park can be reached by taking Shanghai Metro Line 3 or 8 to Hongkou Football Stadium Station. It’s located right behind Hongkou Football Stadium. 

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. With its collection of cherry trees, it’s a top destination for cherry blossom viewing during springtime.

Community Contributors

Added By

katielou106

Published

October 17, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Lu Xun Memorial Park
146 East Jiangwan Road
Hongkou District
Shanghai, 200083
China
31.272669, 121.482589
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Shanghai's 1933 Slaughterhouse

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Circus World

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Shanghai's 1933 Slaughterhouse

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Circus World

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Isa Yusuf Alptekin Park.

    Istanbul, Turkey

    Isa Yusuf Alptekin Park

    A tiny park in the middle of some big power politics.

  • The Edmond Bombing Memorial in Mitch Park.

    Edmond, Oklahoma

    Edmond Bombing Memorial

    A memorial to victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

  • Play Ship

    Boston, Massachusetts

    Martin’s Park

    An inclusive, climate-resilient playground honors the life of a young Boston Marathon bombing victim.

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  • Taipei, Taiwan

    Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial

    A memorial honoring a mathematician likely murdered by Taiwan's authoritarian government.

  • Chicago, Illinois

    Ping Tom Memorial Park

    A hidden oasis just north of Chicago's Chinatown.

  • John Lewis memorial plaque, Sheen Gate, Richmond Park

    London, England

    John Lewis Memorial at Richmond Park

    Memorial marking the man who helped restore public rights access to the park in 1758.

  • On October 19, 1904, James Joyce spent the night in Ljubljana

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    James Joyce Plaque

    The only monument in Slovenia celebrating the famous writer, who stayed there for one night entirely by mistake.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.