“Why we love Changning” micro bus kicks off mini tour

The “Why we love Changning” double-decker bus mini-tour activity, organized by the Changning District Cultural and Tourism Bureau along with local enterprise Spring Tour, was launched on Saturday.

Themed “Shanghai-Style Accordion Art mini tour”, the first bus route began from Changning Road, passing through Yan’an Road W., Yuyuan Road, Nanjing Road W., Garden Bridge of Shanghai, Zhongshan Road E1-The Bund, Wukang Building and other famous landmarks in Shanghai.

Accompanied by melodious accordion melody, tourists sang together, as if joining a moving concert. “I’ve only seen double-decker buses like this on the road before, but I’ve never taken them, so it’s very new and interesting for me,” a lady visitor surnamed Zhao said.

Along the way, the tour guide introduced the history of landmark buildings and roads, with the bus itself sporting several calligraphy fonts like “Why we Love Changning” and “Changning Cultural Tourism”, which drew the attention of many citizens.

At several stops, accordionists also stepped out of the bus to bring music and joy to pedestrians on the street in “flash mob” action. “We prepared about 20 different styles of music along the way, all of which were very appropriate. For example, when passing through Changning Road, we played autumn leaves, so that everyone could feel the romantic atmosphere of autumn leaves,” said Wang Congyu, a well-known accordionist and deputy director of the instrumental music department of the Conservatory of Music of Shanghai Normal University.

It is worth mentioning that as the first tour group of this mini-tour route, young volunteers from all walks of life were invited by the organizer and the Youth League Changning District Committee to be cultural tourism experience officers, most of whom participated in the just-concluded 5th China International Import Expo.

Next, the bus will focus on the themes of “music interpretation”, “buildings can be read”, “streets can be strolled”, “intangible cultural heritage can be inherited”, and will include Shanghai-style landmarks, Suzhou Creek scene, historically protected architectural structures, 64 never-to-be-widened streets and other kinds of trendy cultural and business forms so as to explore Changning’s unique historical heritage and artistic and cultural stories.

Citizens can sign up for the mini-tour by following the “Why we Love Changning” mini program and the “Shanghai Changning Cultural Tourism” WeChat account.