Major renovation project underway in historic community
Pedestrians walk pass a poster of the Hengshan-Fuxing Historic Reservation Area. By the end of 2017, over 300 historic buildings in its the area will be restored.
The 4.3-square-kilometer area in Xuhui District has over 1,600 historic buildings, most of which are listed as protective structures.
The Hengshan-Fuxing Road Historic Reservation Area boasts a large number of well-preserved historic buildings and neighborhoods in downtown Shanghai.
The 4.3-square-kilometer area in Xuhui District has over 1,600 historic buildings, most of which are listed as protective structures.
To better preserve the cultural heritages, Xuhui district government launched a major renovation work on the historic buildings in 2013 and they are expected to finish the first round of the preservation activity by the end of 2018.
Two workers do restoring work at No. 100 Wukang Road.
A total of one million square meters of historic buildings will be restored to their original status by then, according to the district's housing bureau. Over 300 historic buildings in Hengshan Road and Fuxing Road will be restored by the end of this year, with many original building skills and decorations to be revived.
To ensure the historic structures are properly restored, the district has collected and cataloged a number of traditional construction skills, many of which were brought to the city by Western architects early last century.
A worker restores the bamboo fence on the wall, which was popular in Shanghai in last century.
Moreover, the district has revived traditional bamboo spear fences on some streets of the historic area. The fencing, made of interlocked bamboo pieces, was once a common sight, but was gradually replaced by iron fences or walls.
In the next step, the government is working on a scheme to reduce the living density, by relocating some residents to lower the burden on the historic structures, while improving the living standards of the remaining residents, according to the district housing bureau.
The 4,400-square-meters green area of the Donghu Hotel, which used to be enclosed with walls, is now open to the public.
Workers repaint the rails of a building on Fuxing Road W.
A boutique bar on Fuxing Road.
The wall of a construction site on Hengshan Road has been turned into an art gallery.
A couple play badminton in a pocket park at the cross of Fuxing and Huaihai roads.
A historical red villa on Hengshan Road, which was built in 1921 and once housed EMI Shanghai Branch in 1930s, is under reservation.
Art lovers paint on Xiangyang Road N.
Workers repair the wall of a historic residence on Yanqing Road.
