China Starting to Save its Hutongs

China is increasingly making efforts to preserve its historic places and buildings.

2 minute read

March 19, 2008, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"China's northern metropolis, Harbin, is working to save early 20th-century, Russian-influenced stone and wood buildings, repointing brickwork and reaffixing frieze-work facades. Taicheng, a small city in the Guangdong province, is restoring old family dwellings and ancestral temples. In response to citizen pressure, Jinan, a sprawling agricultural center on the North China Plains, has preserved 18th-century waterfront pavilions and one-story buildings, previously scheduled to be torn down and rebuilt in a pseudo-ancient style."

"The newfound interest in preservation is an about-face for a country that for the past three decades has made economic development its absolute priority. In southern Guangzhou, a major urban center on the Pearl River Delta close to Hong Kong, the city has implemented public hearings on urban reconstruction. In the past, whole neighborhoods were razed for commercial development, with homeowners forced to take sometimes substandard apartments on the edge of town. Now, redevelopment plans can be passed only if 70% of an affected area's residents agree."

"In many cases, these preservation efforts are focused on attracting tourists to historic areas. Harbin's renovated district, for instance, will include a shopping area with galleries and cafes, while Jinan's restored buildings are now home to new restaurants. The restorations also reflect more than two decades of lobbying -- particularly by academics and architects -- to preserve what is left of China's architectural treasures, many of which were lost to its Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and '70s or to rapid building and modernization in more recent years."

Thanks to melissa chow

Saturday, March 15, 2008 in The Wall Street Journal

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

5 hours ago - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

6 hours ago - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

7 hours ago - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.