Author: Yang Baojun, President of the Urban Planning Society of China, National Engineering Surveying and Design Master, Former Chief Economist of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
[Photo/Xinhua]
The ancient city of Chaozhou, long known by its accolades as the 'First County East of the Ridge', 'Famous Land South of the Ridge', and the 'Confucian Learning by the Sea', is not only a renowned national historic and cultural city celebrated far and wide, but also a pivotal node on the Maritime Silk Road. The Guangji Bridge, located outside the eastern gate of the ancient city of Chaozhou, was originally built during the Southern Song Dynasty, spanning both banks of the Hanjiang River. With a unique style, it combines beam bridges, pontoon bridges, and arch bridges, and is hailed as the world's earliest opening bridge. The photo above shows the Guangji Bridge in Chaozhou, Guangdong, holding a lighting event for World Children's Day on November 20, 2023.
The Mountain City Alley in Chongqing is a typical historical and cultural street with mountainous features, the only century-old lane in Chongqing named after 'Mountain City'. On April 22, 2024, when President Xi Jinping came to Chongqing, he said, "We must preserve historical memories and characteristic styles while addressing practical concerns of the residents." In the protection and regeneration process of Mountain City Alley, the steep cliffs and the ruins of the ancient city wall have been fully protected, maintaining the original spatial scale and direction of the alleys. About 80% of the original walls and roofs, nearly a hundred large trees, and several staircases have been retained. The overgrown garden of the Renaitang and the original site of the Jinma Primary School playground have been transformed into urban gardens, and the old classrooms in Jinma Primary School have been left intact... Through adaptive protection, Mountain City Alley has recreated its former street market, further enhancing the residential spaces with mountain city characteristics, leaving the city with rich memories of daily life.
President Xi Jinping has pointed out, "Historical and cultural heritage is the soul of a city, and we must protect the city's historical and cultural heritage like we cherish our own lives." When dealing with urban and rural historical and cultural heritage, we must insist on comprehensively protection. We must resolutely rectify serious issues such as excessive demolition and reconstruction, the destruction of authentic sites to build replicas, neglect and disrepair, and inappropriate utilization. We must firmly stop the recurring destruction and removal of urban and rural historical and cultural heritage, and resolutely prevent the phenomenon of building fake antiques and distorting history. Our goal is to authentically and completely preserve important historical and cultural heritages from all periods.
Holding a broad historical perspective, strive to fully represent the historical and cultural lineage
Historical and cultural heritage reflects the genes and lifeblood of the Chinese nation, belonging not only to our generation but to countless future generations" emphasized President Xi Jinping, raising the protection and inheritance of historical culture to the level of ensuring the continuous development of the Chinese nation. For over 40 years since the establishment of the system for historically and culturally significant cities, particularly since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the understanding of historical and cultural heritage has deepened significantly. The conservation action guideline has evolved from a focus on ancient style but ignoring modern characteristics, to a comprehensive approach that temporally and spatially protect the historical culture. We now place greater emphasis on presenting the full narrative of Chinese history and the story of the Communist Party of China, aiming to vividly illustrate the essence of 'what makes China unique' and 'what constitutes civilization' in an integrative fashion.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the passionate scenes of the Third Front Construction Movement workers who were hardworking, collaborative, innovative and devoted themselves to the Construction, continue to move countless people nowadays. The No. 12 Zunyi Changzheng Electric Appliance Factory was once a key enterprise in China’s electrical industry during the Third Front Construction Movement period. In Zunyi City, the old factory buildings from the initial construction phase of the No. 12 old factory have been largely preserved. The main structures retain their original industrial architectural characteristics and have been designated as a national industrial heritage site and a historical and cultural district. Utilizing remnants such as the original supply warehouse and assembly workshops, the original production equipment and technical products are exhibited. These have been transformed into cultural facilities such as the Zunyi Third Front Construction Museum, which vividly tells the 'Third Front stories' and brings back the scenes of the hardness struggling era.
Shenzhen, as a pilot city carried out the China's reform and opening-up policy, holds many historical memories of the country's journey toward modernization and open development. The record set during the construction of the Shenzhen Guomao Building, with a floor completed every three days, became a symbol of 'Shenzhen Speed.' Shekou Industrial Zone, as China's first outward-oriented economic development zone, serves as a significant window showcasing the pioneering Shenzhen spirit—daring to be the first person to attempt a new development mode, and working hard. In historical preservation, Shenzhen places significant attention on contemporary heritage, including buildings such as the Guomao Building and the Diwang Tower, which embody the course of reform and opening up, in the list of historical buildings. The practices of this young, vibrant, and innovative modern city have endowed the work of protecting and inheriting historical and cultural heritage with new meaning.
President Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to show reverence for history, culture, and ecology, and to fully protect historical and cultural heritage, safeguarding the precious legacy left to us by our predecessors. Urban and rural historical and cultural heritage faithfully records the historical origins, developmental process, and general direction of Chinese culture, comprehensively showcasing the unique creations, values, and distinctive characteristics of Chinese culture. It is essential to strengthen historical awareness and to wholeheartedly and diligently protect and inherit valuable urban and rural historical and cultural heritage. We must excavate historical stories, cultural values, and spiritual connotations in a multi-layered, multifaceted, and sustained manner, guarding the roots and lifeline of the Chinese nation.
Source: <https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6LFGalDHEjiTom7pt8_B4w>
Translated by Zhang Chenxi
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