Intangible Cultural Heritage Plus Cultural Creativity: The Secret to Yongqing Fang's Success

As a commercial center for over a thousand years, Guangzhou has constantly seen the replacement of old with new in its urban layout. From Liwan District in the Ming and Qing dynasties, to Yuexiu District during the Republic of China and the early days of the People's Republic, and then to Tianhe District over the past 30 years, the city's central axis has gradually shifted eastward. Xiguan, once prosperous due to foreign trade, has become the oldest urban area, while the fashionable Zhujiang New Town has become a popular area for young people who enjoy new experiences. However, in recent years, a cluster of old streets and alleys in the core area of Xiguan, called Yongqing Fang, has become a popular destination for young people in Guangzhou, frequently appearing on major online platforms. Every weekend and holiday, the three streets and alleys of Yongqing Fang are packed with people. Of course, it's not just young people who come here to visit; the elderly residents of the neighborhood also enjoy this place. So, what exactly is Yongqing Fang? And what are its "magic weapons" for attracting young people? Speaking of Yongqing Fang, Enning Road cannot be ignored. This century-old street was once the most beautiful arcade street in Guangzhou, but it had fallen into disrepair over the years. Many old buildings in the alleys had become dilapidated, and some had even collapsed. How to renovate the old city? Liwan District, where Enning Road is located, has found a way to balance the considerations of demolition and reconstruction, revitalizing old streets, protecting historical blocks, and controlling demolition and development costs. It has blazed a trail of micro-renovation in the old city, giving new life to the history and culture of Xiguan in old Guangzhou. The so-called micro-renovation, as opposed to "demolition and reconstruction," involves updating the facades of buildings without changing their original outlines. However, the micro-renovation of Enning Road is not limited to the renovation of "hardware." The key to the success of micro-renovation lies in how to "revitalize" the history and culture based on the old arcade streets and Xiguan mansions. Guangzhou has already made some innovations in the renovation of the old city in this respect, and Yongqing Fang is the most successful example so far. In October 2016, the first phase of Yongqing Fang officially opened. The first phase of Yongqing Fang consists of one street (Yongqing Main Street) and two alleys (Yongqing First Alley and Yongqing Second Alley). It is home to several historical buildings, including the Bahe Guild Hall of the Cantonese Opera Association at No. 177 Enning Road, Bruce Lee's ancestral home at No. 13 Yongqing First Alley, the Luanyu Hall at No. 7 Yongqing Second Alley, which used to gather Cantonese Opera martial artists, the Baoqing Pawnshop, a Qing Dynasty pawnshop at No. 43 Duobao Street, and the Republican-style residential buildings at Nos. 24-28 Yongqing Main Street. Unlike the first phase of Yongqing Fang, which includes clusters of boutique guesthouses, specialty restaurants, creative office spaces, and art performance venues, the second phase of Yongqing Fang, which began operation in 2018, better showcases the charm of Xiguan, inherits the culture of Guangzhou, and revitalizes the old city. The first phase of the Guangzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Block, which includes nine intangible cultural heritage projects and ten intangible cultural heritage masters' studios, is the focus of the second phase of Yongqing Fang's renovation project. This immersive cultural experience area is located on the west side of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Museum and is Guangzhou's first intangible cultural heritage cluster project and a key project for the integration of culture and tourism. The nine intangible cultural heritage projects are lion dance, Guangcai porcelain, Guangxiu embroidery, enamelware, olive-pit carving, ivory carving, guqin, and the production techniques of woodblock printing and xiao and flute making. The ten intangible cultural heritage masters' studios are run by national or provincial-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors who have been working in their respective fields for many years. They are not only skilled in their crafts but also have unique artistic aesthetics. In addition to showcasing traditional crafts and selling fine art, these intangible cultural heritage masters' studios also offer intangible cultural heritage-themed creative products that embody traditional culture while being both fun and practical. Besides things to see and buy, the intangible cultural heritage block also offers things to do—each intangible cultural heritage master's studio provides corresponding intangible cultural heritage experience courses or organizes elegant gatherings. For visitors with limited time, the "Three Carvings, One Porcelain, and One Embroidery" exhibition near the Yongqing Fang archway provides a quick overview of these intangible cultural heritage items.