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Old Xixi Road will receive a face-lift with focus on folk life
By Xu Wenwen |
February 22, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE onward march of urbanization has led to the construction of many modern buildings in Hangzhou, yet time seemingly hasn't touched Xixi Road. It's the same as it was two or three decades ago.
That is about to change.
Two days ago, a local government panel selected a design that will focus on the folk life of Xixi Road as it will be given a face-lift.
The plan calls for a wider pedestrian space while all old stores will be retained. Officials also hope the revamp will lure more local old brands, especially those of daily commodities, to return to the street.
The project will begin in May.
"We look forward to renovating the old road so it will blend in with the surrounding environment. We expect to develop more culture and history of the road via the renovation," says Chen Jian, the official from Xihu District Urban Management Bureau.
Shanghai Daily tours the strip and talks to store keepers and vendors to discover how life used to be.
Old Xixi Road, between Hangda Road and Baochu Road, extends 580 meters. Overshadowed by glorious buildings at the adjacent Huanglong Commercial Block, the small road is home to shabby houses that carry a great deal of meaning for residents.
Dating back to the 1990s, Xixi Road was a street where many tailors set up shop. Fashionable women were often seen in the area. Today, few of these shops remain as stores selling daily commodities and restaurants now line the narrow road.
He Yufeng, 47, once worked at a tailoring shop on Xixi Road, but as they began to close down he switched and opened a laundry.
"People can imagine how splendid the time was if they know that there were almost 70 workers in the tailor shop where I worked," he says.
"The store was famed for its fast speed. The customers dropped off their trousers in the morning and could pick them up in the afternoon."
Hard work
"However, during that time people were not allowed to make fashionable stuff, and there was a banner in the shop that read 'no bizarre clothes.' Mostly, customers asked to tailor trousers, lady's suits and Chinese tunic suits (Mao suits)."
He still has the scissors and sewing machine from the tailor shop.
Auntie Han's Silk Floss Shop sells silk quilts. The business does well year round as Auntie Han is adept at plumping up old quilts.
Fang Linfu has run his roasted nuts store on Xixi Road since 1991. Fang sells roasted chestnuts, melon seeds, walnuts and other nuts. He has earned a good reputation over the years. His store shows photos of him with celebrities and other customers.
He says his success is due to hard work. Fang is the boss and also the roaster.
"Even in the summer when the temperature soars to over 40 degrees Celsius, I insist on roasting nuts by myself," the 50-year-old says.
"I spent my youth here on this road," he says. "Now it is to be renovated, and I don't want to leave."
Meng Hougen makes a living repairing shoes, and he has been running his small business on Xixi Road for almost 30 years.
He does not have a store, just a chair, a stool and some tools at his booth. He starts at 7:30am every day and closes up at 8pm.
"Most of my customers are residents here and students from the nearby Zhejiang University's Xixi campus, and the thing I've repaired most is the high and slim heels," Meng says.
"Thirty years ago, I only charged 0.5 yuan (8 US cents), but today, I charge 8 yuan to 10 yuan," he adds.
Zhong'er Noodle Restaurant is known for its fair prices and authentic local flavor, and has a branch at the crossing of Xixi Road and Baochu Road. It's one of five in the city.
The restaurant is busy during meal hours and customers need to wait for a table. Most customers live nearby or are office workers in Huanglong Commercial Block.
The restaurant's best sellers are pork liver noodle, pork kidney noodle and tenderloin noodle.
That is about to change.
Two days ago, a local government panel selected a design that will focus on the folk life of Xixi Road as it will be given a face-lift.
The plan calls for a wider pedestrian space while all old stores will be retained. Officials also hope the revamp will lure more local old brands, especially those of daily commodities, to return to the street.
The project will begin in May.
"We look forward to renovating the old road so it will blend in with the surrounding environment. We expect to develop more culture and history of the road via the renovation," says Chen Jian, the official from Xihu District Urban Management Bureau.
Shanghai Daily tours the strip and talks to store keepers and vendors to discover how life used to be.
Old Xixi Road, between Hangda Road and Baochu Road, extends 580 meters. Overshadowed by glorious buildings at the adjacent Huanglong Commercial Block, the small road is home to shabby houses that carry a great deal of meaning for residents.
Dating back to the 1990s, Xixi Road was a street where many tailors set up shop. Fashionable women were often seen in the area. Today, few of these shops remain as stores selling daily commodities and restaurants now line the narrow road.
He Yufeng, 47, once worked at a tailoring shop on Xixi Road, but as they began to close down he switched and opened a laundry.
"People can imagine how splendid the time was if they know that there were almost 70 workers in the tailor shop where I worked," he says.
"The store was famed for its fast speed. The customers dropped off their trousers in the morning and could pick them up in the afternoon."
Hard work
"However, during that time people were not allowed to make fashionable stuff, and there was a banner in the shop that read 'no bizarre clothes.' Mostly, customers asked to tailor trousers, lady's suits and Chinese tunic suits (Mao suits)."
He still has the scissors and sewing machine from the tailor shop.
Auntie Han's Silk Floss Shop sells silk quilts. The business does well year round as Auntie Han is adept at plumping up old quilts.
Fang Linfu has run his roasted nuts store on Xixi Road since 1991. Fang sells roasted chestnuts, melon seeds, walnuts and other nuts. He has earned a good reputation over the years. His store shows photos of him with celebrities and other customers.
He says his success is due to hard work. Fang is the boss and also the roaster.
"Even in the summer when the temperature soars to over 40 degrees Celsius, I insist on roasting nuts by myself," the 50-year-old says.
"I spent my youth here on this road," he says. "Now it is to be renovated, and I don't want to leave."
Meng Hougen makes a living repairing shoes, and he has been running his small business on Xixi Road for almost 30 years.
He does not have a store, just a chair, a stool and some tools at his booth. He starts at 7:30am every day and closes up at 8pm.
"Most of my customers are residents here and students from the nearby Zhejiang University's Xixi campus, and the thing I've repaired most is the high and slim heels," Meng says.
"Thirty years ago, I only charged 0.5 yuan (8 US cents), but today, I charge 8 yuan to 10 yuan," he adds.
Zhong'er Noodle Restaurant is known for its fair prices and authentic local flavor, and has a branch at the crossing of Xixi Road and Baochu Road. It's one of five in the city.
The restaurant is busy during meal hours and customers need to wait for a table. Most customers live nearby or are office workers in Huanglong Commercial Block.
The restaurant's best sellers are pork liver noodle, pork kidney noodle and tenderloin noodle.
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