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Local relics hope for heritage status
May 30, 2011, Monday
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SEVEN relics in Hangzhou are among a list of more than 130 ancient sites and objects with links to the Grand Canal being considered for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status. Shi Xiaohan learns more about the historic Hangzhou hopefuls.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, almost 2,500 years old, offers a penetrating look into Chinese history. A tentative list of 132 historic sites along the Grand Canal in 35 cities applying for World Cultural Heritage status of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was released last month, in which seven are located in Hangzhou.
To most people's surprise, none of the seven nominated relics are major tourist attractions. They are, to some extent, more of a part of the fond memories of the local residents as some are still lively enough today not to be regarded as historic relics, while others have been given new daily uses.
With each nomination, more people are bound to learn more about their hidden history and the cultural value behind them.
Running 1,794 kilometers through China's most fertile and heavily populated land, the canal used to be a vital artery for moving food and goods and one of the country's significant unifying factors. Therefore, it is no surprise that the ancient emperors frequently traveled from Beijing, the capital, along the canal to the south to survey the vast empire.
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) toured to the south in 1751. When he stayed in Hangzhou, the emperor found that neighboring Jiangsu and Anhui provinces had defaulted on huge grain taxes, while Zhejiang had paid all its taxes. After discussion with the local government officials, the emperor decided to write a decree commending Zhejiang by absolving the province from paying taxes for the next two years. The decree was carved on a 3-meter-tall stele, an upright sculptured surface.
Over time, the imperial stele used to be deemed as the boundary marker between Hangzhou and Deqing and was built into a wall of a warehouse. It wasn't until the 1980s that it was rediscovered during excavation work.
Similar to the fate of the imperial stele, the Fengshan Watergate dates back more than 600 years and is the only city gate retained in Hangzhou. It was nearly demolished through the ages until the 1980s when it was renovated.
While some relics suffered ups and downs over the years, others have remained too busy to be forgotten.
Qiaoxi Historical Block and Xiaohezhi Street are nominated for World Cultural Heritage status. Despite their long histories, both remain lively areas with local residents going about their daily life and businesses thriving.
With renovation and preservation works started in 2008, more people have become aware of the history of the two areas.
Qiaoxi Historical Block in Gongshu District is filled with 122 courtyards and is known for its architectural style combining Eastern and Western elements. The area prospered during the Qing Dynasty as it was near a pier on the canal. Today, arts and crafts museums, time-honored TCM pharmacies as well as reputable restaurants and hotels have flocked to the area celebrating the living traditions.
Different from the Qiaoxi area, the two-story houses with black eaves and white walls on Xiaohezhi Street reflect the traditional architecture style of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties. Thriving as early as the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the street is still filled with shops making and selling wine, cotton goods and food.
Built in 1896, the Tongyi Cotton Mill buildings were preserved through history and have witnessed the modernization of the city. Funded by local billionaires in 1896, the factory later went bankrupt in 1902 when it was bought and reformed by the family of the senior official of the empire Li Hongzhang. In 1956, it became the first state-owned cotton-producing factory in Hangzhou. Today, the factory buildings are serving new functions including housing the newly opened Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion of the China Fan Museum.
Similar transitions have been made with the old Customs and Excise Office and the warehouses along the canal.
Built in 1896, the office established by the Qing government was in charge of trading with foreign countries on the canal. Three of the Western-style buildings are now office buildings for the Hangzhou No. 2 Hospital.
The Fuyi Warehouses, the last remaining warehouse group along the Grand Canal was built in 1880. It has been an important interchange station for the flow of grain and other goods on the canal. Almost demolished in the past, it was renovated and converted into a creative art space in 2007.
All sites on the tentative list are under preparation for the final assessment bythe UNESCO international expert panelin August 2013.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, almost 2,500 years old, offers a penetrating look into Chinese history. A tentative list of 132 historic sites along the Grand Canal in 35 cities applying for World Cultural Heritage status of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was released last month, in which seven are located in Hangzhou.
To most people's surprise, none of the seven nominated relics are major tourist attractions. They are, to some extent, more of a part of the fond memories of the local residents as some are still lively enough today not to be regarded as historic relics, while others have been given new daily uses.
With each nomination, more people are bound to learn more about their hidden history and the cultural value behind them.
Running 1,794 kilometers through China's most fertile and heavily populated land, the canal used to be a vital artery for moving food and goods and one of the country's significant unifying factors. Therefore, it is no surprise that the ancient emperors frequently traveled from Beijing, the capital, along the canal to the south to survey the vast empire.
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) toured to the south in 1751. When he stayed in Hangzhou, the emperor found that neighboring Jiangsu and Anhui provinces had defaulted on huge grain taxes, while Zhejiang had paid all its taxes. After discussion with the local government officials, the emperor decided to write a decree commending Zhejiang by absolving the province from paying taxes for the next two years. The decree was carved on a 3-meter-tall stele, an upright sculptured surface.
Over time, the imperial stele used to be deemed as the boundary marker between Hangzhou and Deqing and was built into a wall of a warehouse. It wasn't until the 1980s that it was rediscovered during excavation work.
Similar to the fate of the imperial stele, the Fengshan Watergate dates back more than 600 years and is the only city gate retained in Hangzhou. It was nearly demolished through the ages until the 1980s when it was renovated.
While some relics suffered ups and downs over the years, others have remained too busy to be forgotten.
Qiaoxi Historical Block and Xiaohezhi Street are nominated for World Cultural Heritage status. Despite their long histories, both remain lively areas with local residents going about their daily life and businesses thriving.
With renovation and preservation works started in 2008, more people have become aware of the history of the two areas.
Qiaoxi Historical Block in Gongshu District is filled with 122 courtyards and is known for its architectural style combining Eastern and Western elements. The area prospered during the Qing Dynasty as it was near a pier on the canal. Today, arts and crafts museums, time-honored TCM pharmacies as well as reputable restaurants and hotels have flocked to the area celebrating the living traditions.
Different from the Qiaoxi area, the two-story houses with black eaves and white walls on Xiaohezhi Street reflect the traditional architecture style of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties. Thriving as early as the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the street is still filled with shops making and selling wine, cotton goods and food.
Built in 1896, the Tongyi Cotton Mill buildings were preserved through history and have witnessed the modernization of the city. Funded by local billionaires in 1896, the factory later went bankrupt in 1902 when it was bought and reformed by the family of the senior official of the empire Li Hongzhang. In 1956, it became the first state-owned cotton-producing factory in Hangzhou. Today, the factory buildings are serving new functions including housing the newly opened Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion of the China Fan Museum.
Similar transitions have been made with the old Customs and Excise Office and the warehouses along the canal.
Built in 1896, the office established by the Qing government was in charge of trading with foreign countries on the canal. Three of the Western-style buildings are now office buildings for the Hangzhou No. 2 Hospital.
The Fuyi Warehouses, the last remaining warehouse group along the Grand Canal was built in 1880. It has been an important interchange station for the flow of grain and other goods on the canal. Almost demolished in the past, it was renovated and converted into a creative art space in 2007.
All sites on the tentative list are under preparation for the final assessment bythe UNESCO international expert panelin August 2013.
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