Xu Bili (second from right) and her team

Formerly an abandoned factory, Shenyang 1905 Cultural and Creative Park has transformed into the largest cultural park in Northeast China in just a few years.

Founder Xu Bili said that in 2011, she and her husband settled down in Shenyang and realized that the city has a deep historical background and a strong desire for the arts. However, there was no platform to integrate history, culture, and the arts.

Xu believes that art is not a luxury, but a necessity of life. At the end of 2011, Xu and two other partners decided to start a cultural park in Shenyang combining current local culture and industry with historical relics.

In the process of starting the 1905 Cultural and Creative Park, they encountered a lot of difficulties. It was a huge challenge to construct a modern park in keeping with the original architecture of the old industrial plant. But finally they managed to deliver. The park was constructed from scratch in less than nine months and attracted more than 30 creative shops to settle in. Now it is a hub for culture and art exhibitions, folk performances, experimental dramas, creative studios, bars and cafes and was also rated a national AAA level tourist attraction.

Xu Bili, who was born in the 1980s and grew up in Belgium, said, "we want to guide and change Shenyang' consumption habits and attitudes, so more and more people can feel the power of culture and arts. Culture and creativity update continually so we are constantly exploring new areas, hoping to bring more surprises."

By Huang Pei

Edited by Andrew Ancheta