Experts devoted to protecting old houses in Beijing are holding a
photo exhibition to enhance awareness of the necessity of
preserving traditions and relics.
The photo exhibition, titled "Retain Courtyards -- the Soul of
Beijing," will run until Thursday at the Beijing Working People's
Palace of Culture, located to the east of the Forbidden City.
"Bulldozers should stop demolishing old houses during the
traditional holiday, and we should utilize the chance to arouse
people's awareness to protect our traditions and relics," said Hua
Xinmin, a French writer who was brought up in Beijing's historic
hutong -- traditional alleyways.
The writer said it was essential that people's awareness of the
need to preserve traditional buildings was deepened during Spring
Festival.
A
total of 112 traditional courtyards located in central Beijing are
represented at the exhibition, displaying different architectural
styles of Beijing's residential buildings.
Most of these old houses are set to be demolished during urban
renovation in the city because they are outside the protection
zones established by municipal leaders.
According to Beijing's historical street protection plan which was
released last year, about 40 historical and cultural sections have
been selected for special protection.
Of
these, 30 are in the ancient city area. In addition to 200 heritage
sites, they cover a total area of 2,617 hectares in the old city,
meaning 42 percent of the old city is to be preserved.
But experts argue the protected areas include famous heritage sites
such as the Forbidden City and too few residential buildings are
slated for protection.
Experts estimate 3,000 hutong remain in Beijing, but about
500 hutong disappear each year.
Beijing's courtyards -- first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)
when the city was taken as the national capital -- are the epitome
of China's traditional urban residential buildings.
"Their design, layout and materials reflect the ancient philosophy
of harmony between humans and heaven," said Zheng Xiaoxie, an
80-year-old architect and senior consultant to the Ministry of
Construction.
Xu
Pingfang, president of China Association of Archaeology, said the
situation in China contrasted with that in Paris or London where
urban buildings have been developed spontaneously. Most ancient
Chinese cities have clear urban planning drafts at the beginning of
urban construction.
"Therefore, if we want to preserve our traditional architectural
culture, we must conserve historical communities as a whole instead
of only protecting some important buildings," Xu said.
The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the
Humanities Environment Protection Committee under China Society for
Strategy and Management.
(China Daily February 8, 2003)