The English edition of the Shanghai Culture Series features Shanghai Gentlemen, Shanghai Women, Shanghai Architectural Legacy, and Shanghai Cuisine. [Photo/Shanghai Library]

The English edition of the Shanghai Culture Series was unveiled on May 26 at Shanghai Library East, showcasing four newly translated books: Shanghai Gentlemen, Shanghai Women, Shanghai Architectural Legacy, and Shanghai Cuisine.

Penned by renowned Shanghai writers Wang Weiming, Cheng Naishan, Ma Shanglong, and Shen Jialu, these literary works delve into the city's dynamic populace, iconic architecture, and diverse culinary heritage.

Developed by Shanghai University's Center for Shanghai Culture Studies, the series aims to offer a profound exploration of Shanghai's distinct cultural tapestry. Launched in 2013, this series is a collaboration project between the Shanghai International Culture Association, Shanghai University’s Center for Shanghai Culture Studies, and the Shanghai Translators Association. This initiative involves translating and publishing 12 seminal books from Chinese into English in order to foster cultural exchange. Over 40 experts, scholars, journalists, and writers have contributed to this collective endeavor.

At the launch event, experts, scholars, as well as three contributing authors and translators, delved into the project's origins and significance.

Celine Garbutt, the translator of Shanghai Women, shared her translation journey, highlighting her deep connection with the women of Shanghai and their unique allure and individuality. Wang Weiming, the author of Shanghai Architectural Legacy, emphasized the importance of comprehending the city's architectural narrative through its historical progression and the visionaries behind the designs. Ma Shanglong, the author of Shanghai Women, underscored the adaptability and allure of Shanghai women as central to the city's cultural identity.

Huang Xiaoyan, vice president of Shanghai University Press, underscored Shanghai's rich cultural legacy as the embodiment of the city's inclusive and diverse ethos.

Yang Chunhua, Party secretary of the Shanghai Library, emphasized how significant the launch of the English edition is, as it falls on the 75th anniversary of Shanghai's liberation. Yang also highlighted the library's pivotal role in conserving and promoting Shanghai's cultural reservoirs through digital archives and collaborations with institutions such as Shanghai University.

Source: xinmin.cn