County’s adoption scheme gives old buildings a new lease of life
Print Edition
WUYUAN, a county in east China known for the beauty of its countryside, is finding a novel way to give new life to centuries-old houses that have fallen into disrepair.
People can “adopt” rundown buildings and have them renovated. Some have been redesigned into stylish boutique hotels sought after by travelers from across the country.
The scheme aims to complement a recent building protection drive, which listed key buildings to be maintained. The buildings up for adoption did not make it on the official list because they are not old enough to be eligible for government-funded protection.
Wu Zhixuan, 41, was the first outsider to rent and renovate a house in Wuyuan. He turned it into a village inn.
When Wu visited Wuyuan in 2008, he said he was taken aback at the state of some of the houses, many of which are in a Hui style featuring gray tiles and white walls.
Wu, who has a degree in civil engineering, felt it was his civic duty to stay and do something.
He took out a 40-year lease on Jiusi Hall for 800,000 yuan (US$120,000).
The 500-square-meter building in Luoyun Village has two halls, a kitchen and a backyard. It was built in 1902.
“It looked good but was in a bad state of repair,” said Wu. He recalled that the second floor collapsed when his friend was taking pictures of the space. “My friend was so cool about it, he just held on to a beam,” he laughed.
In 2011, Jiusi Hall opened to the public after renovation work, costing a million yuan, that preserved many of the original features — wooden doors, brick walls, a paved courtyard and elegant wood carvings.
Wu added amenities, such as soundproofing, air conditioning and bathrooms.
Repair costs can reach millions
Wuyuan has more than 4,000 ancient houses, many built over a period of 600 years, up to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
So far, more than 110 houses in the county have been rented or bought by outsiders.
The houses up for adoption are not covered by government protection grants, and repair and maintenance fees for each dwelling can reach millions.
Moreover, it is difficult to find traditional craftsmen to renovate them.
“My heart was broken when I saw these excellent examples of architecture disappearing,” said Yu Youhong, a woodcarver.
Edward Gawne, 32, was the first foreigner to purchase a building in Wuyuan. With help of Yu, he has just completed renovations on a Qing Dynasty house.
The house in Yancun Village was built more than 200 years ago. When Gawne first saw it, many of the wood carvings were damaged and much of the structural integrity needed attention.
The Londoner and his Chinese wife Liao Minxin turned it into a family inn.
“We restored it and decorated the rooms with modern elements to make it comfortable. We also have a bar and a British-style garden,” Liao said.
The adoption scheme has resulted in a tourism boom in Wuyuan, with more than 70,000 of its total population of 360,000 in tourist-related enterprises. Wuyuan now has over 570 family inns.
Critics say adoption may damage original houses and commercialized ancient villages may upset the tranquility of the local area.
However, Wuyuan officials said that major structures are not allowed to be changed. The local government has drafted a regulation that is under review.
“Private investment is being used to renovate and preserve those ancient houses that are not classed as ‘cultural relics’ but are historically valuable nonetheless,” said Cao Guoxin, deputy director with the tourism development research center at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics.
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