Debra Li

    debra_lidan@163.com

    WHILE many get the impression that Shenzhen is an overnight miracle city whose glamour primarily lies in its cutting-edge technology and unparalleled skyline and cityscape, some local cultural and history scholars are trying to also kindle people’s interest in the city’s long history.

    “Peruse Nantou City,” one of four key events of the Shenzhen Reading Month in Nanshan District, attracted several hundred Sunday morning parkgoers who were seeking outdoorsy fun in Nantou Ancient Town. They were initially drawn in by a live music show warm-up of zheng (Chinese plucked board zither) and violin players.

    Near the fortress gate in Nantou Ancient Town, dozens of old photos of Nanshan District by photographer Chen Zonghao are being displayed at an outdoor plaza. Chen, who came to Shenzhen in 1980, was one of four lecturers at Sunday morning’s workshop. The others were Nanshan Museum’s curator Qi Xin, cultural scholar Xiang Nanxiang and chief designer of the Nantou Ancient Town restoration project Wu Shouwang.

    Although lacking the glorious history of some North China cities, which had been capitals of ancient regimes, Shenzhen has a history of human inhabitation dating back more than 6,300 years, Qi said. Nantou Ancient Town, with a history of more than 1,700 years, in ancient times was the site of a township under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou. The layout of an east-west street with six small lanes has existed since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

    As relics have been found near Nantou Ancient Town dating back as early as the East Jin Dynasty (317-420), further archeological excavation work will be carried out at the site next year, Qi revealed.

    Nantou Ancient Town may not be an ancient city in a strict sense, which is defined as having more than 100 years of history, with well-preserved city walls and ancient buildings, such as Lijiang in Yunnan Province or Pingyao in Shanxi Province. However, it’s a good example of a living history, said designer Wu. The place has undergone four major renovations since 1949, the year the PRC was founded. Recent efforts include a partial renovation in 2017 during the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture and an overhaul carried out this year designed by Wu’s team and implemented by Vanke. “With a respect for local culture and history, we made a lot of effort keeping the ancient buildings and plants, and transformed an urban village into a cultural and art block with historical appeal. The project is expected to be completed before the Chinese New Year,” he said.

    Along the neatly renovated north-south street in Nantou Ancient Town are small eateries, dessert shops, cafes, boutiques, souvenir shops and a museum where people can learn about the history of the area. Simplistic long wooden stools are placed in front of some of the shops, allowing visitors to rest on the porches.

    “It’s a shame that many Chinese cities lost their original historical flavor during renovations and become unrecognizable to its original inhabitants,” said Xiang. “Hopefully, we can preserve Nantou Ancient Town as it was, for the sake of our future generations. Past memories are an indispensable part of our identity.”

    On the sideline of the event organized by Shenzhen Publishing Group and Easyread Books, a workshop was held for children to paint their impressions of Nanshan landscapes.