In Beijing's historic core, a once-dilapidated alley has found new life, merging centuries-old architecture with innovative design to bring both past and present to light.
A major heritage renewal project in Beijing's Xicheng District, the Dajixiang or Daji Alley, has made its official debut, welcoming residents and visitors to a modern twist on a historic neighborhood.
The renovation, hailed as a flagship urban regeneration effort following Beijing's central axis gaining UNESCO World Heritage status, preserves the alley's traditional Siheyuan courtyard architecture while integrating modern functionality.
"It used to look so run-down, but after the renovation, it's so comfortable now," said a local resident.
Situated in the central functional zone of Beijing, the area still preserves a large number of historical buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912). Therefore, the biggest challenge facing the renovation project was how to restore the historic buildings to their original appearance.
"The approach was to 'restore the old as it was'. We spent enormous time and effort combing through historical records and invited national-level heritage experts to guide us," said Wang Pu, chief designer of the Zhonghai Dajixiang urban renewal project.
Wang's team adopted a "one house, one solution" plan to guide the restoration of immovable relics and fragile structures. They employed digital technologies to scan and catalogue architectural components to ensure precise rebuilding based on historical materials.
"We carried out demolition, restoration and construction simultaneously, while using eagle-eye imaging to digitally map buildings' original forms. That helped us tackle clashes in design ideas and complex craftsmanship with accurate references," said Sun Qilin, the project director.
Beyond rebuilding, the team stressed the importance of making history tangible and engaging. By revitalizing six protected courtyards into free museums showcasing Silk Road art, the calligraphy of Kang Youwei (1858-1927), a political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing Dynasty, and other rotating exhibitions, developers are bridging heritage with everyday experience.
"We update our cultural exhibits every two months within the core area of the ancient structures. These immersive experiences enrich the project with cultural depth and also spark commercial vitality. We're creating a new model where culture and tourism are truly integrated," said Zhang Xin, a representative from Beijing New City Company.
Beijing's revived alley blends heritage with modern life
Beijing's revived alley blends heritage with modern life
China will take more effective measures to improve people's wellbeing, especially in education, healthcare, and social security, an official said Thursday in Beijing at a press conference on the interpretation of this year's government work report, which was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation earlier in the day.
Shen Danyang, head of the government work report drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office, said centering on enhancing educational equity and quality, the report made arrangements for education at all educational stages and of all types.
"Regarding preschool education, the policy of free education in the year prior to entering primary school will continue to be implemented this year, which is commonly referred to as free admission to the senior class of kindergartens. So, how can the income reduction of kindergartens be addressed? Subsidies will be provided by both the central and local governments, with the central government taking the lion's share. This year, the funds allocated to support the development of preschool education will increase significantly by 37.8 percent to ensure the implementation of the beneficial policy," he said.
Regarding senior high school education, Shen said the report stated that the supply of regular senior high school places will be increased,
Specifically, for areas with a continuous net inflow of population, a number of regular high schools will be planned and constructed on an annual basis. For regions with a temporary shortage of school places, priority will be given to the renovation and expansion of existing teaching buildings, student dormitories and canteens, he said.
Shen said the report put forward many supportive measures in healthcare.
"For instance, it urged efforts to strengthen coordination in drug use at the grassroots level, which mean improving the list of essential drugs, and optimizing the channels for drug supply and drug use coordination between upper- and lower-level medical and health institutions to make it more convenient for the public to use drugs at their doorstep. Besides, the report has made arrangements for supporting the development of innovative drugs for the third consecutive year. This year, China will strengthen the coordination of supportive policies in an all-round way, further address issues such as the barriers facing innovative drugs entering hospitals, and better meet the diverse medical and medication needs of the people," he said.
In terms of social security, Shen said the report proposed to continue raising the minimum standard of basic pensions for urban and rural residents -- a policy will benefit over 180 million elderly people.
"The central government will allocate 1.25 trillion yuan (about 181.25 billion U.S. dollars) in subsidy funds to ensure the timely and full payment of pensions. In response to the insufficient protection of the rights and interests of people engaging in new occupations, the report proposed to steadily and orderly expand the scale of the pilot program for occupational injury insurance. This year, the policy will cover 31 provincial-level regions across the country and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Meanwhile, enterprises specializing in travel, instant delivery and intra-city freight delivery will be included in the pilot program, which will ensure the safety of more laborers, such as food delivery workers and online car-hailing drivers," he said.
China to improve people's wellbeing in education, healthcare, social security: official
