Old Town of Lijiang memoir: 20 years as a World Cultural Heritage site

House renovations keep local authentic flavor

A mature management mechanism for local house renovations has taken shape in Lijiang. Local resident must first apply for a house renovation permit, after which officials from the local urban planning bureau, fire department, environmental protection bureau and protection and management bureau exam the house and its surrounding to form an opinion on renovations.

The Protection and Management Bureau of Lijiang Old Town issued the Management Measure of House Renovation Teams in the Old Town of Lijiang in 2011 to require construction teams to be professionally trained on local house characteristics, special techniques and heritage management.

The bureau also partnered with the US's World Heritage Fund on the renovation of the town's traditional houses, supplying funds for renovation of 299 traditional houses and 236 yards with historical and cultural value. The project received a UNESCO Asian-Pacific region award for excellence in heritage protection.

As UNESCO describes the village on its website, "The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today."

"Lijiang is an exceptional ancient town set in a dramatic landscape that represents the harmonious fusion of different cultural traditions to produce an urban landscape of outstanding quality," the World Heritage Committee said in its justification for inscription.

Restaurant in the Old Town of Lijiang 1995 [Photo by Bruce Connolly]

Restaurant in the Old Town of Lijiang in 2017 [Photo by Du Jianhui provided to chinadaily.com.cn]