Reinterpreting colonial heritage in urban spaces: memory politics and urban regeneration in China

Abstract

This paper investigates the practices surrounding colonial heritage in urban contexts and their implications for decolonisation and memory politics within contemporary social and economic frameworks. Focusing on the regeneration of Duolun Road in Shanghai, featuring Western and Chinese fusion colonial architecture from the International Concession period, the study reveals how the area being reinterpreted to emphasise intellectual history, cultural figures, and public art. This transformation fosters a nostalgic, curated urban aesthetic aimed at middle-class consumers. By prioritising intellectual and cultural heritage over colonial narratives, the regeneration project strategically employs heritage as a tool for urban redevelopment, aligning historical symbols with current policy objectives. Such selective engagement obscures the complexities of colonial legacies and raises critical questions about memory politics in China’s urban planning. Ultimately, these practices mobilise colonial heritage for economic growth, reshaping historical narratives to align with modern urban governance and reflecting a broader phenomenon in China’s heritage management.