China Daily and the local Chinese press are venting frustration about the mess in Dongcheng District. No need here to tell the story, see what China Daily wrote on 16 May on the Editorial Page:
“Save our hutong”
Years back, when Beijing’s municipal authorities pledged to respect the city’s architectural legacies in urban renovation, we celebrated that precious, though belated, wisdom.
As the Beijing Olympics organizers challenge themselves to present the city’s and the country’s cultural splendor, we shared the innocent hope that more of the increasingly scarce hutong traditional alleys and siheyuan traditional quadruple residential courtyards would survive the city’s urge to put on a new face for 2008.
But such hopes were smashed yesterday as workers began to pull down buildings at 9 Dongsi Batiao, a government-designated area for protection.
Local residents tried to stop the demolition, but in vain. Nor did conservation advocates’ and cultural relics protection departments’ passionate objections work.
A notice posted by the developer says buildings in 26 old courtyards on Dongsi Batiao will be demolished by May 26.
We disagree with extreme conservationists who want everything old to be preserved. But the municipal authorities must not play the indifferent onlooker when the city’s cultural identity is being squandered.
The Dongsi Batiao area, an important part of old Beijing, is among the first 25 areas of cultural and historical significance the city has promised to preserve.
But now, 26 courtyards will be gone in less than two weeks. And there is no sign that any powerful office of the municipal government will step to halt the demolition.
The local bureau for the protection of cultural relics did express disapproval. But it is not in a position to stop the demolition.
While the public questions the city’s messy chain of command – with different parties quoting divergent authorizations – we are more concerned about the immediate fate of the endangered courtyards. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.
Of course developers can build replicas. They are quite addicted to that.
The city government has just inaugurated an expensive project to renovate the historical Qianmen area. The idea is to recreate the architectural look of the late Qing Dynasty (1611-1911) and early Republican years (1911-1949).
But it will be a shame if the genuine heritage is destroyed.
End of their article.
I sent the following letter to China Daily on 17 May 07 (not expecting any publication):
RE: Save our hutong – 16 May
Thumbs up for the transparent reporting on the destruction of Dongsi Batiao. As Senior Advisor to the Dongcheng District I feel ashamed to see the District not intervening in this matter. I often defend the Beijing Government who has tried to protect old buildings within the 2nd ring but this story makes a mockery of Beijing’s Government. I hope your article will draw some attention, otherwise it will be once more a proof for the foreign media that Beijing is destroying its heritage for quick real estate gains, or worse, for the Olympics.
Now wait and see how the story will end… But I not so optimistic.