The fusion of millennium-old architectures with modern stylish shops has made an ancient residential area in Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province brim with vitality.
Located inside the south gate of the ancient city wall of Xi'an, the thousand-year-old Xiangzimiao Street has recently emerged as a popular destination among a vast array of attractions in the much-loved tourist city, where visitors can not only feel the time-honored cultural deposits, but also get a great consumption experience in different types of stores.
The street is named after the Xiangzimiao Taoist Temple. Built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the temple was the former residence of Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals in the Chinese Taoism, and is regarded as the seedbed of Xiangzi Culture, a school of Chinese Taoist culture.
There are two streets surrounding the temple, with Xiangzimiao Street in the east-west direction and Defu Alley in the north-south direction. With the renowned Bell Tower, Drum Tower and City God Temple not far away, the area boasts rich cultural tourism resources and attract visitors from both home and abroad.
"I can feel the strong vibe of the ancient city here, which collides with modern arts. I really have had a great experience. It is worth the trip," said Wang Weijie, a tourist from south China's Guangdong Province.
The Defu Alley that used to be lined with tightly packed bars and coffee shops was a fashion landmark of consumer tastes in Xi'an decades ago. However, as people increasingly pursue a more diversified consumption experience, the original single business model there has gradually become less popular among consumers.
In an effort to revitalize the business district, local authorities have launched a large-scale renovation project of Defu Alley since last year.
"With many shops introduced here, the overall business model of this street has become an integrated consumption place covering coffee shops, bars, high-end catering, Hanfu stores and others. Now Defu Alley is more elegant, has more artistic style, and offers a better and richer experience. It is hustling and bustling day and night," said Liu Ruiming, a local official.
Many shop operators have also given more thought to the exquisite decoration and creation of photo scenes to attract more young people.
"We should not only keep our traditions, but also conform to the current fashion trend. We need to offer not only tasty and beautiful products, but also a place where customers can take nice photos. We receive a lot of tourists now, so we have set up photo props according to the decoration of our shop, so that they can record the good memories here," said Chen Miaoyuan, owner of Times Coffee at Defu Alley.
Fusion of millennium-old architectures with modern stylish shops revives ancient residential area in Xi'an
