We need a directory of ancient towns, villages, and streets to create the "Shanghai Culture" brand
Zhong Chengchen
Shanghai not only has an increasing number of high-rise buildings rising from the ground, but also boasts picturesque old streets and narrow alleys, as well as the water towns of Jiangnan. In recent years, 11 towns and 2 villages in Shanghai have been named as famous historical and cultural towns and villages in China, and 5 villages have been included in the list of traditional Chinese villages. Xinchang Ancient Town has also represented Shanghai and 10 other ancient towns in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to jointly apply for the "Jiangnan Water Town" World Cultural Heritage, highlighting Shanghai's Jiangnan cultural genes.
Various ancient towns, villages, and streets in Shanghai witness the long-standing Jiangnan culture. However, according to the new requirements for the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage in the new era, there is still room for improvement in resource management, dissemination and promotion, and integrated protection of ancient villages and towns in Shanghai.
One is unclear concepts and insufficient public awareness. In some promotional reports, the descriptions of ancient towns, villages, and streets are quite confusing. For example, Qibao is both known as the "ancient town" and the appearance of the same name "old street", which is difficult to distinguish. Some concepts believe that places with old streets are ancient towns, while others believe that as long as there are preserved old buildings, they are considered ancient villages and towns, lacking authoritative statements and clear definitions. Even so, some ancient towns can only be said to have existed in history, but have no traces or ruins left, and all facilities have been rebuilt later. Can this still be called an ancient town?
The second is unclear boundaries and insufficient integration and protection. Our city has issued documents such as the Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Protection and Renewal of Historical and Cultural Famous Towns and Villages, which have clearly defined the key scope of protection and utilization. However, some ancient villages and towns that the common people believe have protection value are not within the scope, and face the question of whether to protect them and how to protect them. As stated in the "Measures for the Protection of Jiangnan Watertown Ancient Towns in Pudong New Area, Shanghai", Xinchang Town, Gaoqiao Town, and Chuansha New Town are included in the protection scope, while water town ancient towns in the minds of the people such as Sanlintang, Liuzao, and Hengmian are not included, which is not conducive to integrated protection.
The third issue is unclear resources and insufficient integration of culture and tourism. In the official titles, in addition to the list of Chinese historical and cultural towns and villages, as well as traditional Chinese villages, there are also honors and evaluations led by various departments such as characteristic landscape tourism towns and villages, key rural tourism towns, and millennium old towns, resulting in a vast amount of information. Many citizens and tourists want to travel in the old towns and streets, but when they search the Internet information, they can find various descriptions such as "Top 10 Ancient Towns in Shanghai", "Top 16 Ancient Towns in Shanghai", "Top 10 Old Streets in Shanghai", etc., which are confusing. If there is a list of ancient villages, towns, and streets that tourists can refer to, it will bring greater attraction and increase their interest in playing.
Jiangnan culture is the cultural foundation for the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. It is suggested that Shanghai should further increase the protection and utilization of ancient towns, villages, and streets to better inherit and disseminate Jiangnan culture.
One is to carry out directory compilation. Drawing on the practice of Suzhou City's announcement of the first batch of ancient towns, villages, and streets last year, we will study and clarify the recognition standards for Shanghai's ancient towns, villages, and streets, integrate different evaluation systems for cultural relics protection units, historical and cultural towns, and intangible cultural heritage, optimize the scope of protection and management, and integrate them into the management system, forming a "Shanghai Ancient Town, Ancient Village, and Old Street List" for public release, and increasing social attention and recognition.
The second is to do a good job of protection and utilization. Include all the ancient towns, villages, and streets listed in the protection scope. In combination with rural revitalization, rural living environment improvement, and other work, we will comprehensively consider and systematically promote the protection and utilization policies of ancient towns, villages, and streets in urban and rural construction. We will implement protection and utilization measures in a graded and classified manner, and integrate and link the resources of ancient villages and towns throughout the city to better showcase their historical, cultural, ecological, and other multiple values, achieving sustainable development.
The third is to enhance the value of tourism. Through the compilation of a directory of ancient towns, villages, and streets, we aim to further explore the rich cultural elements of Jiangnan ancient towns in Shanghai, create a tourism cluster for ancient towns and streets, and launch themed routes such as sightseeing and check-in. With the shining business card of Shanghai's ancient town cultural tourism image, we aim to make Shanghai's ancient towns and streets a "poetry and distant place" in the minds of more people, and appreciate the beauty of historical and cultural heritage.
