Past: Centuries of Xiguan Prosperity and Century-Long Decline (Southern Song Dynasty-2015)
Yongqing Fang is located in Guangzhou’s Liwan district in the Enning Road Historical and Cultural Area. The location of this site traces its roots back to the beginning of Baoyou in the Southern Song Dynasty. The area was a central business area for Xiguan from the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republic of China. There were arcades, Xiguan mansions and bamboo tube houses all along the main shopping streets. As such it was a primary incubator of Lingnan culture (Cantonese opera, martial arts, Guangcai porcelain, etc.) and was a hub of activity for many other aspects of the local community. The Enning Road arcade street, which was constructed in 1931, was named “the Most Beautiful Old Street” in Guangzhou. The street has been the home to important historic sites such as Bruce Lee’s Ancestral Residence, the Bahe Guild Hall and the Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall. These have created an open-air museum of Guangfu culture.

However, since the 1990s, as the city center of Guangzhou has shifted eastward, the area has suffered from dilapidated buildings and crumbling infrastructure and has become one of the largest concentrations of hazardous or dangerous old homes in Guangzhou. In addition, traditional businesses have also declined, and residents have increasingly moved out. There are a number of large-scale demolitions and reconstruction efforts that began in 2006 but have stalled due to disagreements about how to protect the culture of the area and have left the area stuck in a state of decline or demolition for almost a decade.

Present: Micro Renewal and Development into a Cultural Landmark (2015-Present)

In 2015, the government of Guangzhou began the micro-renewal of Yongqing Fang using a “municipally guided, commercially implemented, and resident participated” approach. Renewal work focused on preserving Yongqing Fang’s urban spaces, focusing on architectural characteristics found in Lingnan culture such as arcades, Manchurian windows, and Tanglong doors, while modernizing the interior of the buildings.

• Phase I (2016): Approximately 7,000 square meters of renovations introduced cultural creativity, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and light food service to the area.
• Phase II (2018-2020): Expanded to 113,700 square meters, restored the Lizhiwan Stream water system and established the first ICH block in Guangzhou. In 2020, it was rated as a National 4A Tourist Attraction and one of the first national tourism street blocks.
• Upgrades (2021-Present): Added trendy shops such as Zhongshuge Bookstore and MAO Livehouse, held art exhibitions and cultural activities, and became a symbol of “old city, new vitality.” It has attracted more than 50 million visitors since 2021.

Historic and Modern Importance
Yongqing Fang is another successful example of micro-renewal of historical urban districts in China, creating a model for urban renewal that involves less grand planning and red tape. The project preserved the rich Lingnan cultural fabric present in the site’s architecture, while at the same time creating an improved lifestyle environment for commercial activity, and could serve as an example for revitalizing old urban districts rich in history throughout the nation.

Image References

All images not separately credited below filmed at location by Stories Rezoned team

1. MAXMIMI. Old Alley in Enning Road (Pre-Renovation). c. 2012. Tencent News, 18 Jul. 2023, https://view.inews.qq.com/a/20230718A08TR600.
2. Anonymous. Before-and-After Renovation of Yongqing Fang. Xinhua News Agency, 28 Aug. 2022, http://www.news.cn/photo/2022-08/28/c_1128954282_3.htm.
3. Anonymous. Before-and-After Renovation of Yongqing Fang Building. Xinhua News Agency, 28 Aug. 2022, http://www.news.cn/photo/2022-08/28/c_1128954282_4.htm.

References

1. Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources. “Enning Road Historical and Cultural Block Protection and Upgrade Project Selected in the Second Batch of National Urban Renewal Typical Cases.” 26 Mar. 2025, ghzyj.gz.gov.cn.
2. Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government. “Yongqing Fang ‘Upgrades’: Marginal Land Transformed into ‘Living Room’.” 24 July 2025, www.gz.gov.cn.
3. Guangzhou Daily. “Here, Memories and Nostalgia Are Preserved for the City.” 10 May 2021, gzdaily.dayoo.com.
4. Xuexi Qiangguo. “Retaining Urban Memory in Continuing Historical Context—A Visit to Guangzhou Yongqing Fang Historical and Cultural Block.” 12 Mar. 2025, article.xuexi.cn.
5. Southcn. “New Life for an Old Street: Vanke’s Exploration in Protecting and Revitalizing Historical Blocks.” 17 Mar. 2025, news.southcn.com.