Building on the past

After nearly 26 months, Xiaoguanghan was given new life as a film museum and boutique restaurant. The museum now boasts more than 4,000 historic items, including cameras, projectors, posters and classic props, making it an ideal place for visitors to learn about the history and culture of Chinese cinema. According to Li, since it opened to the public in 2011, it has welcomed more than 300,000 people through its doors.

The restoration of Xiaoguanghan has become a model for social groups in Jinan, says Jiang Bo, professor of the Shandong Jianzhu University, who is engaged in historic and cultural heritage research.

Social organizations have been playing an increasingly important role in preserving historic buildings in the city.

The Jinan Old Building Culture and Tourism Association, founded in 2017, promotes the preservation and use of historic buildings by integrating cultural tourism.

One preservation project completed by the association is the Shandong Huaxia Letter Culture Museum at the former site of the Jinan bureau of telegraph reception and delivery.