When it comes to the flavors that are shared and remembered by the people of Shenyang, the deliciousness of “Hongmei” brand MSG (monosodium glutamate) is indispensable. Now, at the entrance of the Hongmei Park on Weigong North Street in Shenyang’s Tiexi District, the taste of “childhood” from memories comes vividly to mind.
Established in 1939, the Hongmei MSG factory has been renovated and transformed into an urban cultural and creative park. The new entrance encircles and leads to the old gate, with the old factory name still hanging high, as if one can see the workers and trucks bustling in front of it in the past. The “Hongmei Wall” is constructed from the red bricks of the old factory buildings, serving as a beautiful metaphor for “Hongmei memories” and giving the park an atmosphere that is both retro and fashionable.
Walking into the taste-themed museum, visitors can understand how MSG has evolved from three dimensions, that is “science, civilization, and art”, and how salt, pepper, and sugar have influenced the progress of human civilization. While wandering through, one can also listen to the “ups and downs” of life, and smell the scents of nature in the wild, where everything owns a “flavour”.
The former fermentation workshop has been transformed into the “Fermentation Art Center.” The unique tri-arch shape has been preserved, and the two MSG fermentation tanks in the factory still stand tall, with the walls retaining their mottled rust marks. The exhibitions here focus on the themes of humanity and nature, brimming with creativity, and art continues to “ferment” in the spacious area. The building with its distinctive six-span roof, originally used for storing raw materials for the MSG factory, is now the “Yuanliaoku” LIVEHOUSE music venue. Young people often come here to experience the charm of music, which brings the old factory buildings fresh vitality.
A fermentation tank sculpture stands in the square, marked with the names of many countries, representing the glory of Hongmei MSG being exported far and wide. “The old platform echoed with the sound of train whistles, and workers carried the goods back to the factory together.” Today, people come to the old train platform to enjoy barbecue, as if time has never gone far away.
Shenyang Hongmei, as a precious treasure of this old industrial city, remains a timeless landscape in the hearts of its people. The old flavors that have accompanied Shenyang for half a century still linger on the palate. Now, with a new look, it continues to enrich people’s “cultural taste buds”.
