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Friday, April 23, 2021, 10:38
Shenzhen answer to urban renewal dilemma
By Li Bingcun
Friday, April 23, 2021, 10:38 By Li Bingcun

SHENZHEN - To get a fresh city image that matches with economic achievements, replacing old districts with the new ones seems to be the easiest way. Yet to ensure higher quality development, Shenzhen is exploring a different way by reinvigorating the old with new elements.

The renovation of Nantou ancient city is the most vivid example of this. Partly reopening to visitors in August last year, the old block, which has a history of about 1,700 years, was upgraded and turned into a sought-after modern cultural landmark.

Previously, the area was a typical “urban village”with densely located residential buildings and outdated infrastructure posing safety hazards. The revamped main streets greatly retained the original layout and historical sites with renovated buildings and upgraded facilities.

There used to be a terrace covered with plants, which was a beautiful view amid the concrete jungle. After the renovation, the green corner was kept, considering locals’ affection for plants.

The block was instilled with new vigor, brought by various art exhibitions and stores selling cultural and creative products. There even popped up the nation’s first offline store selling cultural products of Wutiaoren. The Guangdong band has become a nationwide hit last summer and occupied my playlist for quite a longtime.

Nantou is among Shenzhen’s seven urban villages implementing a pilot policy of “micro-renovation”. Instead of completely demolishing old structures, the initiative aims to give as much protections as possible to the communities’ characteristics.

The sprawling urban villages and “the old city" seemed increasingly incompatible with the “new city” comprised of modern buildings towering into the sky. Many such villages were completely torn down, leaving no trace of existence. 

The smallest among the nation’s four first-tier cities, Shenzhen has long suffered acute shortage of land and started the renovation of urban villages in 2004. To seek high-quality development, the city is now trying to balance the interests of more parties, including the local residents, in the process of reconstructing the old districts.

I still remember the shock brought by the Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture held in Nantou in 2017. Featuring the theme of coexistence of old and new city, the exhibition turned a whole urban village into a giant stage with shops, buildings and dwellers becoming part of the show. 

The art event marks the opening of a new evolution of the region, and the ongoing renovation project is a step forward in this.

Urban renewal is a thorny issue in the whole Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which is poised to be a world-class city cluster. It is also common in every fast-growing regions in the world. There is no standard answer to how the old and new elements should coexist in a modern city. Maybe Shenzhen’s practice can bring some new thoughts to other cities troubled by the dilemma.

Contact the writer at bingcun@chinadailyhk.com

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