Shenzhen explores organic renewal of urban villages

The Gankeng Hakka Town in Longgang District.

Seven urban villages in Shenzhen were recently selected to pilot different types of urban renovation to better preserve the historical and cultural landscape, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported yesterday.

The selected urban villages include Wutong AI ecological town in Luohu District, Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District, Qingping ancient marketplace in Bao’an District, Guanlan ancient marketplace in Longhua District, Gankeng Hakka Town in Longgang District, and Dapeng Fortress and Nan’ao market town in Dapeng New Area.

According to a work plan released by Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, the seven urban villages, in light of their own ecological environment, history, folk culture and other characteristics, will not undergo large-scale demolition and reconstruction, but instead comprehensive renovation to reshape their appearances.

The bureau pointed out that most of the urban villages in Shenzhen have problems, such as poor living quality, insufficient open space and public facilities, and lack of historical and cultural protection.

However, urban villages play an important role in the urban development of Shenzhen and possess unique intrinsic value, the bureau noted.

Urban villages, while recording the development of Shenzhen, are important carriers of historical and cultural space. Moreover, they ensure the housing demand of the city’s large population and provide low-budget living spaces, which promote the overall jobs-housing balance.

According to the plan, Wutong AI ecological town will focus on the incubation of the new-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology industry and build an innovation demonstration area of sustainable and comprehensive community governance and reform.

Nantou Ancient Town plans to build itself into a city of development symbiosis, representing the 1,700 years of Shenzhen’s history, and to become a cultural landmark in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Guanlan ancient marketplace will be built into a demonstration area of traditional cultural tourism and a place where Hong Kong and Macao compatriots who share the Hakka culture can find their roots.

Qingping ancient marketplace will showcase the characteristics of a commodity trading and distribution center in Songgang, Shiyan, Gongming and other places in the middle and late Qing Dynasty.

Gankeng Hakka Town will invigorate the traditional Hakka houses and buildings, retain the texture of Hakka houses, and build a Hakka culture tourist destination integrating cultural tourism, leisure, ecological vacation, cultural display and popular science education.

Dapeng Fortress will highlight its historical value, further push Pengcheng Village into becoming China’s famous historical and cultural village, and create a model of all-for-one tourism and community integration on Dapeng Peninsula.

Nan'ao market town will be turned into an international coastal town, featuring a combination of tradition and modernity, culture and ecology, mountain, city, river and sea.