Young people have been flocking to the Lu Xun Former Residence in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, over the past week, according to the Yangcheng Evening News (24/8). Many have been bringing lighters and filming themselves pretending to light the cigarette in the mural's hand. These videos have gained traction online, attracting views and comments on social media.

However, many visitors argue that the artwork's placement in a tourist area is inappropriate, potentially encouraging young people to smoke in public. Some have lodged complaints, suggesting the management replace the cigarette with a book or pen. The Former Residence has acknowledged the feedback and is exploring solutions.

The Lu Xun mural has faced criticism. Photo: Sina

The topic "Lu Xun mural" has ignited discussion on social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of comments. Supporters maintain that smoking was a defining characteristic of Lu Xun and part of who he was. They believe it's a historical element and should be portrayed accurately. One Weibo user, Allen, received over 10,000 likes for his comment: "Those who say the painting is harmful to teenagers should throw away their phones, because those are what really get kids addicted.".

Tens of thousands of others argue that while Lu Xun has many admirable qualities, the Former Residence should have chosen a more contemporary image. They commented: "Smoking isn't allowed in public, and that includes Lu Xun.".

The mural has existed at the Former Residence for a long time but has recently gained attention due to young people checking in and posting videos online. Photo: Ifeng

Established in 1953, the Lu Xun Former Residence in Shaoxing is open to the public. The memorial site includes the author's former home, a garden, a bookshop, and an exhibition of artifacts from his life.

In a poll on Ifeng asking "What do you think about tourists complaining about the Lu Xun smoking mural at the Former Residence?", over 63,000 respondents felt the complaints were unreasonable, stating that the complainants "don't understand Lu Xun and don't respect history". They also pointed out the mural is within the Former Residence and not in a public space.

Nearly 6,000 respondents agreed with the complaints, believing Lu Xun's image should "be appropriate for the modern era".

Author Lu Xun. Photo: The Paper

Some have suggested alternative approaches to displaying images of people smoking. For example, the Shaoxing Former Residence could follow the Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shanghai by adding a "Smoking is harmful to your health" sign near the mural.

Lu Xun (1881-1936), whose real name was Zhou Shuren, was born in Zhejiang province, China. Before becoming a writer, he studied navigation, mining, and medicine. He later decided that healing the mind was more important than healing the body and turned to art. Lu Xun aimed to expose the "spiritual illnesses" of his country and its people through his writing.

From 1920 to 1925, Lu Xun worked at Peking University, Peking Normal University, and Peking Women's Normal University. In 1927, he moved to Guangzhou and became the dean of academic affairs and head of the literature department at Sun Yat-sen University. His major works include the novella "A True Story of Ah Q" and the short story collections "Call to Arms," "Wandering," and "Old Tales Retold.".

Nghinh Xuan (according to Ifeng, Ycwb)