End of an era as historic town relocates families
By Claire Wang |
June 18, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A HISTORIC town in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, that boasts of its cultural heritage is set to relocate the last of its residents, many of whose families have lived there for generations.
Almost all residents in Huishan Ancient Town - more than 1,300 households - have been resettled since the town began restoring its historic appearance in 2008 and homes made way for hotels, restaurants and stores.
The last few people still living in the tourist town will be relocated soon, Modern Express newspaper reported yesterday.
An old block in Huishan was recently named China's Historic Cultural Street by heritage officials who praised its level of preservation.
Families of more than 80 percent of its residents have lived there for generations, keeping the traditional lifestyle. Now they face relocation.
The Huishan website claimed renovation of the historic street won widespread support among local residents and the improvement of the living conditions of local people has always been given top priority.
But a local resident, named Huang, among the last 18 households to be moved out of the old town, claimed he has been harassed repeatedly by developers because he hasn't signed a compensation deal.
"We often receive anonymous calls and they sometimes go to our work place to try to persuade us to sign the deal. They also threatened to cut off our electricity and water," Huang told the newspaper.
Officials denied these claims. "We didn't harass them. We explained our policies to them," Cheng Wei, an official in charge of the relocation project in the neighborhood committee told the newspaper.
Cheng said compensation has been raised from 6,475 yuan per square meter to 16,000 yuan.
Chen Xiaohong, vice general manager of the developer of the old town, admitted some stores in the town were available for rent, but said these were temporary.
When Wuxi land authorities granted approval for the project in 2008, they stated land in Huishan Town was a cultural relic and couldn't be used for commercial activities.
Almost all residents in Huishan Ancient Town - more than 1,300 households - have been resettled since the town began restoring its historic appearance in 2008 and homes made way for hotels, restaurants and stores.
The last few people still living in the tourist town will be relocated soon, Modern Express newspaper reported yesterday.
An old block in Huishan was recently named China's Historic Cultural Street by heritage officials who praised its level of preservation.
Families of more than 80 percent of its residents have lived there for generations, keeping the traditional lifestyle. Now they face relocation.
The Huishan website claimed renovation of the historic street won widespread support among local residents and the improvement of the living conditions of local people has always been given top priority.
But a local resident, named Huang, among the last 18 households to be moved out of the old town, claimed he has been harassed repeatedly by developers because he hasn't signed a compensation deal.
"We often receive anonymous calls and they sometimes go to our work place to try to persuade us to sign the deal. They also threatened to cut off our electricity and water," Huang told the newspaper.
Officials denied these claims. "We didn't harass them. We explained our policies to them," Cheng Wei, an official in charge of the relocation project in the neighborhood committee told the newspaper.
Cheng said compensation has been raised from 6,475 yuan per square meter to 16,000 yuan.
Chen Xiaohong, vice general manager of the developer of the old town, admitted some stores in the town were available for rent, but said these were temporary.
When Wuxi land authorities granted approval for the project in 2008, they stated land in Huishan Town was a cultural relic and couldn't be used for commercial activities.
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