Protection, Restoration, Activation and Utilization of Ancient Houses in Fuzhou to Make Them Shine Bright

Fujian Opera Grand View Garden opened to welcome guests.

Photographed by Yan Lanping

On the morning of June 26, when the municipal leaders inspected the protection, restoration and activation of ancient houses, the reporter learned that in recent years, through the simultaneous development of protection, restoration and activation, a number of ancient houses in Fuzhou have regained their vitality and bloomed brilliantly, and ushered in the upcoming 44th World Heritage conference with a new look.

Located at the intersection of Cangqian Road and Jiefang Bridge in Cangshan District, Anlan guild hall, also known as Zhejiang guild hall and Shangbei hall, was built in the 40th year of Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty, covering an area of about 2,400 square meters. It is a gathering place for Zhejiang businessmen, officials and celebrities in Fujian.

On the morning of June 26, the reporter saw in the Anlan guild hall that workers were installing wooden enclosure doors, and security facilities were under construction. According to the person in charge on the scene, Anlan guild hall will be built into a business exchange platform for Fujian and Zhejiang in the new era, and strive to realize partial opening in mid-July.

Longan, rice noodles, dried seafood... Entering the Putian Famous Products Exhibition Center of Xing'an Hall, you cans see a variety of Putian local characteristic products are dazzling. According to reports, the Xing’an guild hall was founded in the Qing Dynasty. It was built by the Xinghua government business group composed of Putian and Xianyou merchants, covering an area of 3,000 square meters. It faces south sitting north and runs through Shanghang and Xiahang Roads. In April last year, Fuzhou Putian Cultural Development Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuzhou Putian Chamber of Commerce, signed a contract with Fuzhou Shangxiahang Protection and Development Co., Ltd. to hand over No. 84 and 86 Xiahang Road (77 Shanghang Road) to the Putian Chamber of Commerce in Fuhzou, as the new site of Xing'an Hall and Fuzhou Putian Chamber of Commerce, fully implement the "Xing'an Hall" restoration project. "In the future, the Xing'an Hall will focus on the business of Xing'an and showcase the history and culture of Xing'an." The relevant person in charge of the Xing'an Hall said.

On June 26, Fujian opera Grand View Garden, located in Shangxiahang Historical and Cultural Block, was officially opened to the public. It is reported that the Grand View Garden of Fujian opera covers an area of 1,340 square meters. It is renovated and utilized by the ancestral hall of He’s family in the ancient house. With the original intention of inheriting, innovating and developing Fujian opera, it aims to create a cultural brand of Fujian capital that includes cultural exhibition, opera performance, cultural creation experience, leisure and entertainment of Fujian opera. Next, the Grand View Park of Fujian opera will successively launch a series of Mindu cultural activities, such as "Minju digital experience" and "Minju post office", to further explore brand resources and provide authentic Mindu cultural services for citizens and tourists.

The relevant person in charge of the Fuzhou Ancient House Group stated that Fuzhou will focus on repairing a number of celebrity houses, cultural relics and historical buildings, continue to promote the protection, renovation and restoration of Zhuzi Lane, and simultaneously accelerate the construction of the fund port, and promote the protection and repair projects of important nodes in Shangxiahang, Liangcuo, and South Park, and continue to expand the protection of historical and cultural cities. At the same time, it strengthened the activation and utilization of neighborhoods, integrated traditional cultural formats, local characteristic commerce and fashion tourism formats, introduced regular and immersive performances of Fujian local operas, continued to improve street performances, and created a comprehensive tourism package of “food, accommodation, travel, entertainment, and shopping”, and form a “block cultural and tourism ecosphere”.