City walks step up in popularity

Fang, who went to an elementary school near Pingshi Street, said the area used to be a labyrinth of alleys where houses were internally partitioned off to allow for more occupants.

However, many of the buildings had structural damage and hygiene problems, and in 2009 a restoration project began.

The district government restored 63 buildings listed under cultural relic protection. Some other old buildings that did not have such protection were also preserved through partial restoration work, according to the city's historical and cultural street development company.

"There were many lively scenes in this neighborhood about 20 years ago, such as the locals starting their day by flocking to the market to buy fresh vegetables. The alleys teemed with people pedaling bicycles, and various stalls that were on roadsides have now vanished," Fang said.

"Though the area is quite tidy now and the old buildings along the street have retained their original appearance, the hustle and bustle of city life seems to have gone in these alleyways. I feel a bit sad about that."

The balance between urban development, retaining the appearance of historical buildings and allowing people to live in historical areas may need more consideration, she believes.

After walking the streets and alleys of Cinna Lane, Fang and her group couldn't resist a pidu (pork rind) noodle shop across from the No. 89 building on Pingshi Street.

"It was near noon, and the tantalizing aroma of boiled pork rinds filled the air and drew us inside," she said.

"I noticed that the shop belonged to an old chain of local gourmet restaurants in Nanjing. By noon, many residents who had once lived nearby had come to taste the authentic flavor of the fresh pidu noodles on the street corner.

"It was that moment that touched me. By preserving a few local noodle or pancake shops, the locals' memories of their past lives were revived. Even if the neighboring areas have been completely commercialized, their memories of the old town can still be kept."

Designing city-walk routes like Fang's require time and effort. Fang said she spent about a month researching routes for Nanjing's southern area and adjusted the walking map three times. She believes such routes are worth mapping out as "innovative exploration" helps ensure that tiny changes to urban environments don't go unnoticed.