What historical coordinates did West Street leave for future generations?

In Quanzhou, West Street seems to be more than just a general street name, but more like a cultural symbol and a spiritual post!

Not long ago, on the occasion of the opening of Quanzhou Activity Year 20 14, the cultural revival plan of Quanzhou ancient city with the transformation of West Street as the core was officially launched, and the ancient West Street once again became the focus of attention of people from all walks of life.

Under the background of the construction of East Asian cultural capital, the transformation of Quanzhou West Street is remarkable, because it is the spiritual home connecting 30 million Quanzhou people at home and abroad, and it is an irreplaceable coordinate for examining Quanzhou history!

In 686 AD, before the foundation of Quanzhou ancient city was laid, another national cultural relic protection unit, Kaiyuan Temple, was laid in Ziyun Village at the southern foot of Qingyuan Mountain in 14. This temple is still one of the four major Buddhist temples in China. The East-West Twin Towers built by this temple in the Song Dynasty are eternal landmarks of the ancient city of Quanzhou.

With the rise of Kaiyuan Temple, the first street in Quanzhou's history was naturally formed in front of its mountain gate-West Street.

After years of wind, frost and smoke, this street is still noisy during the day and quietly facing Kaiyuan Temple and Dongxi Tower at night, still staring at the generations of Quanzhou people passing by her, still quietly recording all the joys and sorrows of the ancient city. ...

If Quanzhou had not been included in the first batch of famous historical and cultural cities in China by the State Council, it would have been completely demolished by developers and rebuilt into a high-grade residential area in this era of surging urbanization.

Fortunately, according to the regulations, no tall buildings can be built around historical and cultural cities (at least not higher than the height of the East West Tower), and the cost of demolition and development is too high and the profit is low. West Street has not moved, and the surrounding area has maintained its original historical features. Its core is the protection of ancient dwellings, ancestral halls, temples, more than 20 streets and public buildings of various styles with cultural relics value.

Of course, this does not mean that it is a good thing to keep everything original.

Although many cultural relics buildings in West Street have been maintained, most of them are dilapidated and some even collapsed due to lack of repair. The appearance, environment and living facilities of West Street are also lacking.

Being awarded the cultural capital of East Asia and opening the cultural revival of the ancient city has obviously won a historic opportunity for the rebirth of West Street.

But how to transform West Street? This is a focus that everyone can't ignore! Some people suggest tearing down all the old streets and building a new downtown area on a piece of white paper. Some people argue that in order to preserve the historical characteristics of the ancient city, it is best not to move the old streets and buildings; Some people think that simply building an exotic ancient city tourism and leisure area. ...

* * *' s suggestions all sound reasonable, and some of them think that the prospect is quite good, but when you think about it carefully, such suggestions are divorced from the reality of Quanzhou West Street and do not stand on the historical coordinates of Quanzhou, leaving a better West Street for future generations!

The transformation of West Street has always attracted people's attention.

At the end of last year, Quanzhou Economic Work Conference pointed out that the characteristics of West Street lie in its profound cultural heritage. However, at present, the houses on both sides of the road are dilapidated, and there is no unified planning for shops, which is in urgent need of repair and transformation.

The reconstruction of West Street must be carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements of National Cultural Heritage Administration, and the cultural relics atmosphere cannot be destroyed.

The reconstructed West Street should not only retain the existing cultural relics atmosphere, but also become a tourist and leisure street with modern atmosphere.

This passage really emphasizes-it can really be used as the general principle of West Street reconstruction! The historical background and cultural value of West Street must be reflected in the reconstruction, otherwise, the revival of Quanzhou ancient city with West Street as the core will lose the essence and soul of culture.

West Street is the carrier of Quanzhou 1300 years of history, which brings together the memories of thousands of people in Qian Qian, Qian Qian. If it is completely demolished, or changed into a foreign style, or completely transformed into a modern community, then the transformed West Street is not the West Street in Quanzhou.

Therefore, even out of consideration for history and future generations, the overall protection, development and utilization of the ancient city with West Street as the core must be based on the premise of protecting the cultural ecology and continuing the historical context, and gradually develop cultural tourism resources, organically integrate modern leisure, creativity, entertainment and other elements, promote the rise of emerging formats, promote the revival and transformation of the ancient city, and build a core brand of cultural tourism.

As the historical coordinate of a city, the transformation of West Street is the consideration of the wisdom of the rulers, and it is also the embodiment of the civilized quality of a city during the transition from history to modernity. The ancient West Street comes from the depths of history. I hope that the reconstructed West Street will not only play the role of inheriting this famous historical and cultural city, but also complete a magnificent promotion in the process of integrating various modern civilization elements!

? Source of this article: Southeast Network-Fujian Daily Editor: Wang Xiaoyi