Chongqing- At the 11th Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo being held April 7-9, Jiangbei District hosted an exhibition booth featuring a new demonstration project for community-based urban renewal, where a former industrial site has been redeveloped into a trendy quarter blending commercial space with a village culture ethos. After the exhibition was unveiled, representative Gavin Wu joined iChongqing to further introduce the project.
The Yinghua Lane Cooperative Village - Youth International Community is located in the Wulidian Neighbourhood of Jiangbei District. The old streets built in crisscross layouts used to be residential complexes belonging to the now-decommissioned Chang’an Machinery Factory, as well as 1950-era buildings previously occupied by the families of military industry workers.
Gavin Wu, representative of Yinghua Lane Cooperative Village - Youth International Community in Chongqing Jiangbei District (right), and James Alexander, the reporter from iChongqing (left). (Photo/ Zhai Kui)
Yinghua Lane offers a tranquil community where visitors can reminisce, feel present, and imagine the future. (Photograph/Yinghua Lane Developer)
While there are now many scenic spots in Chongqing where former industrial sites have been renovated into trendy retro-style commercial areas, urban renewal in Yinghua Lane has taken the approach of developing a community in the form of an open public space, where everyone has a wealth of possibility to create youthful activities based on cultural innovation, leisure, entertainment, and appreciation.
Gavin Wu explained that Yinghua Lane should be considered a village community within a city where humanistic culture stands at the forefront. For example, “Business owners settled here are referred to as villagers to make them feel part of the woodwork, while the developer has built spaces for the public to enjoy theatrical performances, music activities and participate in cultural exchange.”
Consulates based in Chongqing have also participated in organizing public activities, such as a French language event and film viewing sessions held by the Swiss Consulate. “We hope more people can become involved to foster a more diverse range of cultures. Every city needs urban spaces where residents can participate fully and develop an organic, unique charm for their area.” Wu added.
Yinghua Lane offers rich possibilities for youthful cultural events as the renovated factory site strives for a new community feel. (Photograph/Yinghua Lane developer)
A future objective is to introduce more content based on this foundation so that people can hold more interaction and exchange in addition to merely partaking in consumption scenarios. At present, more than 30 enterprises have settled in the community, while developers are committed to setting up both a youth activity and operations center, which can tap more deeply into local culture, allow for a people-orientated core in this urban pocket, and fully display the inherent charm retained by the city.
Looking to the future, Gavin Wu described ongoing plans for the Yinghuaxiang area, officially unveiled to the public in March last year but experienced a slowdown due to external factors stemming from the pandemic. However, the first Village Culture Festival is now set to take place in May, and plans are imminent to expand the community.
“The second construction phase will double the land area to 6.6 acres by the end of this year, by which time we also hope to achieve a 90% business occupation rate. We hope that more visitors will come to reminisce the past, feel present, and imagine the future.”
Yinghua Lane has adopted a novel approach to urban renewal by fostering a village ethos rather than a purely commercial scenic spot. (Photo/ Yinghua Lane developer)
Jiangbei leading in cultural essence
Culture and Tourism in Jiangbei District have centered around the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, focusing on inheritance and innovative development. The region seeks to enrich consumption scenarios, promote high-quality development, and continually improve the cultural essence of the city.
For instance, the cause of urban renewal has incorporated cultural relics, old factories, and antiquated neighborhoods to create top attractions like the Xu Beihong Art Museum, Yinghuaxiang Cooperation Village, and Ninth Street. Meanwhile, cultural formats will be introduced for national 4A level scenic spots, new performance art spaces will be created in Tieshanping Tourist Resort, and the first “Financial Museum” is planned for the Jiangbeizui CBD.
On this basis, the famous internet hotspot, Beicang Cultural Innovation Street, is being upgraded into “Beicang Village.” The Xu Beihong Art Museum will be expanded into a whole art district, and construction of the upcoming MIXC City in Jiangbei is set to become the first high-end complex for business, tourism, and culture in the southwest on the scale of tens of billions of yuan.
In this new era, Jiangbei will continually showcase the charm and achievements realized through cultural tourism.