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November 16, 2016

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Renovations give old communities new life

DOWNTOWN Hangzhou is dotted with a multitude of old buildings and communities which have clung to their traditional character despite the modernization and development that continues to sweep the city.

Over the years, some traditional neighborhoods and enclaves have been restored and turned into tourist attractions. Others though have fallen into near collapse through years of neglect.

The government of Hangzhou has restored residential buildings in 21 communities around the city this year. Before the year is over, it hopes to finish restoration efforts on five others, including those on Qiafengli, Hubiancun and Yuanfu Lane.

Today, Shanghai Daily draws attention to three restored older neighborhoods filled with fascinating stories. Here, one can get a glimpse of both the city’s history and the diverging destinies of its traditional communities.

Shaohua Lane-Qiafengli

The Qiafengli community sits apart from the noise and crowds of nearby West Lake. It is located at the crossroads of Kaiyuan Road and Liuying Lane. Comprised of a cluster of shikumen — traditional stone-gate lane communities — built in the 1920s, these two-story structures feature Anglo-American terraces and high brick walls which add a historic flavor to Kaiyuan Road.

At the beginning of the 1950s, a local merchant donated his private theater to the government. But with no troupe available, there were no performances. To enrich the lives of the local people, the government brought over Yueju Opera performers from Shanghai, and established a troupe in Qiafengli.

Over recent years, Qiafengli has gradually become surrounded by modern constructions, while the neighboring Shaohua Lane has also been hit by partial demolition. Compared with elegant roads nearby, Shaohua Lane was less eye-catching and had fewer inhabitants, making it a candidate for being torn down.

Not all of the area’s older houses are gone, however. Lu Weizhao’s Former Residence and several Hangzhou style bungalows still remain. Lu was a renowned educator, painter and calligrapher.

According to government plans, Lu’s house will be restored along with the remained bungalows. Now, Qiafengli and Shaohua Lane are both being rebuilt. Construction is expected to be finished soon.

Zhongshan Road S.-Shiwukui Lane

The area between the western edge of Zhongshan Road S. and the northern edge of Shiwukui Lane contains many of Hangzhou’s older residential communities. In these, most residences are wooden or brick structures built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and early the Republic of China (1912-1949) period.

It’s said that the original name of Shiwukui Lane was Shiwugui — “stone turtle” in Chinese — in reference to the stone turtle that was once in the Huizhou Clan House. However, since the name was deemed vulgar, it renamed as “Shiwukui.”

Restoring this area took roughly a decade, with work finally finishing this year. Among the crisscrossed lanes and streets, Sipailou Lane is famous for its connection with several prominent historic figures. Its name literally means “four tablets” in Chinese, which commemorates four sages from history: Yue Fei, a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279); Yu Qian, a Chinese defence minister during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); Chu Suiliang, a talented calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907); and Wu Zixu, a famous Chinese scholar and military general in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

Zhongshan Road S. also houses the famous Southern Song Royal Street, which is the earliest revamped block where residences were renovated. Residents moved in and a variety of shops prospered. Today, the street is a popular scenic spot that draws stream of visitors every day.

Longxiangli

The buildings in Longxiangli is of traditional Shanghainese architectural style that combines Western and Chinese elements, resembling Anglo-American terrace houses or townhouses, distinguished by high brick walls enclosing narrow front yards.

The block is considered as the treasure of feng shui, a Chinese philosophy harmonizing human existence with the surrounding environment, by virtue of its location near West Lake. It is named after Longxiang Temple, built in the Southern Song Dynasty.

The old lane has suffered in past years. Dozens of food stalls have popped up there, making the lane polluted with waste oil and leftovers. However, its location at the intersection of West Lake and the Hubin commercial belt put it on prime downtown real estate. Government gave the community a facelift and made it part of the prosperous Hubin Commercial Circle.

Now, dozens of famous fashion brands have opened stores in Longxiangli, including an Apple flagship store and numerous restaurants, boutiques and cafes. Today, it is a popular hangout and also attracts swarms of tourists every day.




 

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