Conservation and Sustainable development of World Heritage City

The programme is based on the outstanding universal value of Pingyao ancient city, and implements the conversation concept and method of living heritage. Form the sample of scientific conservation and management mechanism and technology system of human settlements in China.

According to the Master Conservation Plan of Pingyao Ancient City by Tongji University, the objectives of the programme could be concluded as An urban area with integrated functions of Culture, Tourism & Habitat, which means to promote social and economic development while achieve the conservation and management involving communities and residents.

The objectives led to 3 strategies: 1) Protect the heritage. 2) Improve the living condition of residents.(3) Develop the cultural industry and encourage creative industry.

During the contiuous research and implementation, a series of outcome have been achieved to help the sustainable development to world heritage site : Pingyao Ancient city.

First, comprehensive conservation framework has been established  including the  urban texture, height control, traditional courtyard houses and the intangible heritage and cultural space.

Second, Living condition of locals have been improved through the restoration and subsidy project. Through public-private partnership and restoration subsidy, traditional dwellings are conserved and revitalized, thus many residents benefits from the conservation and community gradually being engaged. Till 2018, there were 4 batches and 93 traditional courtyards restoration completed through the project with a total subsidy of about 1.7 million USD.

Third, brown field changed to cultural space which led to new cultural industry grow besides visiting tourism. Meanwhile it help the revitalization of  local Intangible Cultural Heritage to enhance the  Economy recovery and resilience.

Fourth, as a smaller, county-level city, resources management and capacities were sometimes limited. To address the general lack of information and coordination, an integrated management plan was created, as well as a toolbox combining planning regulation, building permits, finance and governance information.

In the whole process, Many actions and policies aimed to improve the living condition of residents, so a people-centered approach has been adopted in the implementation.

(1) For stakeholders, workshops and heritage-related education have been organized in diverse forms to engage community participation. To improve living condition of inhabitants, subsidies and guidelines were launched to encourage and guide private-owner of traditional dwellings to restore their own houses.

(2) For the general public, the government and many institutes like Tongji University organized a series of lectures, workshops and activities to help raise the awareness of residents and shop owners.

The Conservation and Revitalisation Programme of the Ancient City of Ping Yao aims to make a significant contribution to the long-term sustainability of the historic city through innovative management, coordination and financing models and a combination of conservation actions aimed at both tangible and intangible heritage. The programme builds on the different aspects which form the identity of the city, such as the different urban and heritage values, the local communities and stakeholders, to propose a people-centred approach to heritage conservation and sustainable local development.