China's urban renewal is forging fresh urban memories, from meticulous restoration at the smallest scale to the revitalization of the broader historic fabric.
This year, urban renewal policies in the country have showcased a new characteristic -- a tailored approach that gives each city its own unique features.
In Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a public market on the Luzu Temple traditional street is bustling with tourists enjoying the local atmosphere.
"The street retains the local characteristics of Chongqing, but through renovation, it has been made very attractive, which also draws people to come and visit," said a Chinese tourist.
"About the street, it's very clean. It's well-designed. There's a big footpath, so you can walk. It feels very nice," said a foreign tourist.
"It used to be dirty, messy, and poor. The ground was full of potholes," said Yang, a local resident.
This street, small as it is, has a history of over 110 years and boasts four historical and heritage buildings.
Once dilapidated, its renewal posed exceptionally complex challenges.
The rooftops here feature the small blue-grey tiles of traditional Chongqing residences, red pan-tiles from the 1950s, and unique double-curved brick vaults. The facades are made of blue, red bricks, stone walls, and cement.
To preserve the urban memory, each building was restored to its original location and house number, with over 10,000 old bricks used alone.
"To make it secure, we cut out every single brick joint, and injected new reinforcing material into them, and then pointed the joints to enhance its strength. It took at least three months," said Li Dong, chief engineer of the Project Management Department of Chongqing Yuzhong District Cultural Tourism Development Group.
Currently, this place combines a century-old historical heritage with modern convenience. The traditional style zone of the street now hosts diverse businesses like woodworking workshops and bakeries, attracting a large number of young consumers.
The average monthly revenue of businesses exceeds 8 million yuan (about 1.13 million U.S. dollars), with peak daily foot traffic surpassing 100,000 visits.
This year's urban renewal policy documents also emphasize meticulous approaches. Thanks to the dedicated renewal efforts, people in many cities have benefited from renovated residential communities, and improved infrastructure, such as water supply, drainage, gas and heating pipelines and waste disposal facilities.
In Shenzhen City, south China's Gunagdong Province, the Xili Lake Greenway was fully connected in February this year, leading to an increase of over 90 percent in greenway trips by nearby residents.
In Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, the renovated Huilan Nanyuan Future Community has seen a 14-percent increase of daily trips within one kilometer for activities like grocery shopping and medical visits.
Urban renewal in China creates new memories for residents
