Chongqing- As the "mother town" of Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Yuzhong District abounds with rich historical and cultural resources. However, outdated building blocks, backward infrastructure, and cramped urban space hindered the city's development.
In recent years, Yuzhong District has worked on urban renewal planning to improve the functional facilities and cultural resources. Based on retaining the city's original architectural style and spatial texture, Chongqing created a host of new landmarks for tourism and consumption, where the city's memory is inscribed on the buildings and old streets.
As the commercial center of Chongqing in the past, Shibati is located in Yuzhong District, Chongqing. (iChongqing file photo)
In April, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources issued the Chongqing urban renewal planning and design guidelines to improve functional facilities and urban quality. Chongqing proposed distinctive strategies for each category targeting the four most representative areas of the old communities, commercial districts, factories, and neighborhoods.
Urban memories and cultural resources
As the commercial center of Chongqing in the past, Shibati (meaning eighteen steps in Chinese) had suffered a period of disorderly development, leading to cluttered neighborhoods.
After four years of renovation, Shibati has become a new appealing place for locals and tourists. "Shibati was renewed and renovated based on preserving the original streets and alleys," said Zhong Feipeng, a competent representative in Shibati. "Centuries-old stone ladders, traditional stilt houses, and ancient yellow oak tree all carry the mother city's memories and citizen's nostalgia."
Shibati Old Street in Chongqing is like a dream world at dusk. (iChongqing file photo)
Furthermore, Shibati is also a combination of local and foreign cultures. For example, the first southwestern copper store of Zhu Bingren, one of the national intangible cultural heritage brands, is decorated with exquisite copper crafts there.
"Cultural inheritance needs popular support. We not only prepared the art museum but also created the Chongqing intangible cultural heritage craftsman experience hall," said Yang Ruoqi, director of the Zhu Bingren Bronze Art Museum. "By showing 14 local intangible cultural heritage inheritors and their works, the intangible cultural heritages are integrated and exchanged here."
The renovation of Shibati mirrors the urban renewal in the Yuzhong District with a series of historic and cultural districts built based on the landscape's nature. Last November, it was selected as one of the first 21 national pilot cities for urban renewal in the country.
The high observation deck of the Eye of Clouds in Chongqing. (iChongqing/ Chen Zhan)
Improved urban functions
In addition to the appearance enhancement, the urban renewal is linked with the urban functions. As the life flavor and international style coexist, Yuzhong District enjoys access to the abundant consumption scenarios.
With an altitude of 520 meters, the high observation deck of the Eye of Clouds represents Yuzhong's improved facilities. "The building where the observation deck is located was once an office building with a long-unused apron on the roof," said a representative staff. "In 2020, we transformed the apron into an internet-famous attraction by rebuilding the stairs and tourism supporting facilities, where the beautiful panoramic view can be seen there."
Yuzhong District of today is not only the "mother town," but also the open window and consumption highland of Chongqing, reported an official. It accelerates the international consumption resources' gathering to build the core area of the international consumption center, taking advantage of opportunities such as urban renewal and others.