History gives way to modernization in Yueyang city

Old houses along the river. (Photo/Xinhua)

The historic streets of Yueyang of Hunan province in central China are giving way to urban-renewal projects, as cultural sites dating back hundreds of years are torn down to meet the demands of booming housing and tourism markets.

The three streets that define Yueyang — Hanlin, Louqian, and Taqian — are undergoing a makeover against the backdrop of swift city development and a rising number of tourists. Yueyang has evolved over the past 3,000 years from a granary to an economic and transport hub in the Hunan.

Taqian Street’s nearby Cishi Tower faces possible demolition or relocation. The tower, which was built at the peak of the Tang dynasty, is crumbling from neglect as an exodus of job-seeking youth has caused a labor shortage to maintain the cultural heritage site.

In stark contrast to the crumbling street is the area’s imposing Bianhe Street. About 300 meters in length, this new commercial area has been built nearby to greet tourists flocking to see the hundreds of historic treasures in the city, including the famed Yueyang Tower.

The new street, which occupies 18,000 square meters, is supposed to be a representation of the cherished aspects of both the ancient and contemporary culture of Yueyang. However, some history experts criticized the newly built street as lacking in the historic aura of the ancient town.

Hanlin Street could also face a similar fate as ancient buildings are replaced with newly built residential communities and quaint gravel roads give way to asphalt ones.

Structures dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties are being demolished to make way for concrete housing units built by China Poly Group under an urban development project that requires the renovation of old buildings.

Instead of restoring the historic sites to their former glory as promised in the development project, the group tore them down and relocated just one landmark temple to a small corner.

A development project to restore a third street, Louqian, to its artistic glory of hundreds of years ago has also attracted criticism.

Launched by the local government, the project includes building a plaza to house a city hall honoring the culture of the Qing dynasty. Critics say this is reminiscent of the corruption of the latter era of the dynasty established by the Manchu people, and also stifles the culture of the Han people.

Culture preservationists, meanwhile, have called to protect the historic sites from destruction. In response, city officials have delayed or halted several of the projects.

“I’m not against city development, but I also want the essence of our culture to pass on,” said Ou Yang Zhengwei, former director of the city’s urban development arm.

The view was echoed by researchers studying the culture of the Yueyang region, who warned against commercial and economic development at the expense of tradition.

“When the old streets of a city disappear, what is lost is its history and the traits that define the place,” a researcher said.

Source: Want China Times