Applying modern methods to keep the past alive

Fixing a leaky roof is possibly an easy job for many people, but not for 51-year-old Hao Yongming who lives in Pingyao, one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To repair the leaks in the roof of his centuries-old house, Hao had to complete a series of formalities. He first submitted an application to the neighborhood committee, met a team of experts from the local natural resources bureau, obtained a maintenance plan and a pass that allows building materials to enter Pingyao, and finally, he was able to hire a certified construction team for architectural repair.

"The procedures are cumbersome, but they are there to preserve the original style and structure of the houses in Pingyao," says Hao. "Our future depends on preserving history."

The Chinese government has initiated a string of measures for the protection of Pingyao, located in North China's Shanxi province, in recent decades, especially after it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

Thanks to the effective conservation of historical sites and intangible cultural heritage, as well as the improvement of the living environment, the walled city, with a history of over 2,800 years, is regaining its shine.

History built by merchants

Pingyao boasts a well-preserved urban landscape from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The ancient city, covering an area of 225 hectares, is home to more than 300 cultural relics and nearly 4,000 traditional buildings.

For a period of time, Pingyao saw the development of tourism at a meteoric pace. Business opportunities brought about by tourism resulted in the transformation of traditional dwellings along the town's main road into hostels, souvenir shops, eateries and bars.

However, many complain that the ancient city is losing its serenity and distinctive character owing to these rapid changes.

To address the problem, the local government has restricted, and even prohibited, projects deemed to be against the traditional characteristics of the town, and has encouraged the development of traditional Chinese culture.

It has demolished 57 illegally built courtyards and set up a database and a skills training workshop to strengthen the protection of its 137 intangible cultural heritage projects.

A popular traditional art in Pingyao is shagexiren, which blends crafts such as wood engraving, sculpture, painting, opera, calligraphy and lacquering. An intangible cultural heritage, it was once on the verge of extinction.

Timely preservation efforts of the government have helped safeguard shagexiren and the art form has been promoted through restoration, reproduction and video-recording, says Huo Wenzhong, director of Pingyao county's intangible cultural heritage protection center.

The ancient city rose to prominence in the 19th century as China's financial center. Banks flourished as Shanxi merchants expanded their businesses across the country. It also promoted the creative transformation and development of traditional culture.

Another Glance at Pingyao, an interactive play showcasing the business and cultural legacies left by Shanxi merchants, is deemed one of the must-see attractions in the ancient city. With over 6,000 performances to date, it has raked in more than 700 million yuan ($101.5 million) in revenues.

"The immersive show takes audiences back to the past, boosting the popularity of Shanxi's merchant culture," says Liu Wenlin, deputy director of Pingyao's culture and tourism bureau.

People-centered upgrades

The ancient city is not only a heritage site but also a home to around 10,000 people. To improve local residents' living conditions, the government has built parks, a parking lot and modern public restrooms, phased out coal-fired boilers and carried out garbage sorting since 2012.

One of the largest infrastructure projects, with an investment of 1.39 billion yuan, is being carried out in Pingyao. It involves road reconstruction and upgrading of the electrical grid, communications network and drainage pipes.

"It will prevent subsurface water leakage from damaging the ancient buildings and convert more households from coal-based to electric heating, thus fundamentally improving the living environment of the ancient city," says Wang Longfei, deputy chief of the infrastructure project.

Since 2012, Pingyao county has provided subsidies of over 15 million yuan for the restoration of privately owned vernacular buildings, and the initiative has helped revamp nearly 1,000 residences in 105 courtyards.

Hao has lived in Pingyao since his birth. In the past, he really hated winter, as he had to keep shoveling coal into the furnace to keep warm and brave the freezing temperatures to go to a pit latrine outside his house.

Today Hao's home is equipped with an energy-efficient heater, which is subsidized by the government, and an indoor toilet. "Living in the ancient city is now as good as living in a modern urban apartment," he says.