Past: Rise and Fall of a Millennium Ancient City and the Plight of Urban Village (Eastern Jin Dynasty-2018)
Nantou Ancient City was founded in the 6th year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. For almost 1700 years, Nantou Ancient City was an important coastal defense fort, administrative center and trading port in Lingnan, referred to as the “roots of Shenzhen and Hong Kong.” Today there are numerous historical relics still present in the city, including ancient city walls, county government offices, temples, etc., such as Guandi Temple and Baode Temple.

Since the Reform and Opening Up, with the rapidly developing urbanization of Shenzhen, Nantou Ancient City evolved into a typical urban village, with chaotic buildings, aged infrastructure, obvious fire hazards, and high concentration of migrant workers. In addition to the deterioration of its historical aspects, due to its valuable historical background, the site had been idling and losing vitality for a long time, and therefore was one of the most important areas in need of renewal in Shenzhen’s urban development.

Present: An Area of Cultural Synergy through Innovative Micro-Renewal (2019-Present)
Nantou Ancient City was designated a key pilot project for urban renewal in Shenzhen in 2018, and the official start of the revitalization and renovation project began in 2019. Initiated jointly by the Shenzhen government, the village joint-stock company and Nantou Real Estate Co., Ltd, this project will follow the principle of “renewal of the old as the past, minimal interventions and gradual renewal”, carefully renovate historical structures and organically transform the urban village structure.

The project will be renovated in stages, retain the original format of local civilian businesses and introduce new diverse businesses including cultural and creative studios, specialty book stores, modern food services, art galleries and intangible cultural heritage experiences. Today, Nantou Ancient City not only retains its millennium-long historical heritage and traditional way of life, but also has become a culturally creative and artistic meeting point, social media famous destination and a tourist attraction in Shenzhen, realizing a mutually beneficial relationship of protecting historical relics, improving the quality of life of the local community and enhancing the vitality of the city.

Historical and Modern Significance
Nantou Ancient City is one of the few thousand-year-old cultural and historical artifacts in Shenzhen, carrying the cultural roots of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The revitalization project gives an approach at integrating coexisting of historical blocks and urban villages, and develops a pioneering urban renewal model that considers the needs of municipal government, commercial operation, and local residents. Yet it’s doubtful that the revitalization project met its stated core values: some parts of the site are significantly over-commercialized, with the old urban village’s structures being replaced by modern shops likely due to aesthetic concerns about the former neighborhood. It’s inevitable that in some cases of revitalization preserving memories is often foregone to maximize the development’s chances at commercial success.

Image References

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

1. Anonymous. Aerial View of Nantou Ancient City (Pre-Renovation). 2017. Sohu, 1 Mar. 2019, https://m.sohu.com/a/298379911_100260095/.
2. Anonymous. Dilapidated Residences on Leping Street. 2018. Shenzhen Nanshan Image Library, http://202.203.222.253/nstk/subject/2.
3. Anonymous. Exterior of Wen’s Ancestral Hall (Xinguo Gong Shrine). 2015. Southern Metropolis Daily, 27 Aug. 2020, https://static.nfapp.southcn.com/content/202008/27/c3954572.html.

References

1. Nanshan District People’s Government of Shenzhen. “Progress on the Protection and Renewal of Nantou Ancient City.” 12 Oct. 2024, www.szns.gov.cn/ztzl/ntgc/.html.
2. Southern Metropolis Daily. “Nantou Ancient City: From Urban Village to a New Cultural Landmark of Shenzhen.” 20 Jan. 2025, www.oeeee.com/2025/0120/123678.shtml.
3. Shenzhen Evening News. “Micro-Renewal Lights Up the Millennium Ancient City, the Renewal of Nantou Ancient City.” 5 Nov. 2024, sb.scol.com.cn/html/2024-11/05/content_98745.html.
4. Nantou Real Estate Group. “Operation Practice and Achievements of Nantou Ancient City Project.” 18 Dec. 2024, www.nantou-group.com/project/ntgc/.
5. Shenzhen Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources. “Protection Plan for Nantou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Block.” 30 Jan. 2025, pnr.sz.gov.cn/ghzl/ghbg/202501/t20250130_1568972.html.