Preserving the past

• Source: Global Times
• [15:27 February 25 2011]
• Comments

Hugues Martin in his home in Shanghai. Photo: Cai Xianmin

By Zeng Zhiwei

Hugues Martin's apartment is a mess. In his 15-square-meter study, framed maps of ancient Shanghai lean against the walls, a box full of old documents lies under a sofa, vases and bowls litter three antique tables, and a bookshelf is stuffed with old dictionaries.

"Please be very careful, they are not very expensive, but they are very difficult to find," Martin said.

The 38-year-old Frenchman, who works as a senior consultant for an investment firm, dreams about becoming a full-time researcher, working on ways to preserve and use the remains of old Shanghai to help the city develop.

Martin came to Shanghai seven years ago and has felt connected with the city ever since. In 2006, he began researching and writing articles about the city prior to the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949.

He set up a blog called Shanghailander.net to share his work with friends who have the same passion. He has written about 150 articles, mostly about things from the 1920s and 1930s, a period when Martin believes there was real interaction between Chinese and Westerners.

About 1,000 people have signed up for the blog's mailing list, Martin said.