Lijiang, China
One of China’s Last “Living” Ancient Towns
Authentically restored buildings in Lijiang.
The disappearance of local people has led to irreplaceable damage to Lijiang’s authenticity. In order to help protect the authenticity of Lijiang, and to help harmonious development for both social, cultural and economics aspects, in 2002 the Lijiang Ancient Town Management Committee (now the Lijiang Ancient Town Protection and Management Bureau of World Cultural Heritage), signed an agreement with Global Heritage Fund for a private-public sector Lijiang Conservation Trust for the rehabilitation of traditional residences in Lijiang. A program of restoration grants and improving the historic district’s infrastructure has effectively stopped the exodus of indigenous Naxi people stabilizing at approximately 20,000 Naxi residents in the old town (70% of total population). GHF also helped to provide training and support to the Lijiang Ancient Town Management Bureau as it grew from 12 persons in 2003 to 140 persons.
In the early 1950s, modern structures of concrete and steel of the Lijiang Machine Tool Factory were built in the region, which were not coordinating with the building styles of the other houses of the old town. There were no water supply and sewage systems for the factory, so all the wastewater was directly let into the nearby canals, which brought negative effects on the old town. To improve the protection of environmental elements of the old town, new parks and green belts, and restored vegetation have been implemented in accordance with the original landscapes. Large numbers of Cypress trees have been grown for the restoration of vegetation on Sleeping Lion Mountain, Jinhong Mountain and Elephant Mountain.
All former office and governmental buildings have been removed and the traditional buildings have been maintained to restore enlarge open spaces for leisure of visitors and the local residents. Cultural tourism industry- oriented businesses were 1,361 in 2007, including 1,265 handicrafts and arts stores selling to tourists. Shuhe ancient town has now 396 cultural businesses, including 350 handicrafts and arts stores. As of December, 2007, GHF and Lijiang Ancient Town Management Committee completed authentic restoration of 174 ancient residences with an additional 22 currently in-progress. Micro-loans and grants were provided to select low-income and poverty level residents who could not match subsidies to assist them in undertaking the costly preservation and authentic restoration work needed to remain in the Ancient Town.
