Guest
Yu Yong
Interview Background
Four years of renovation have washed away the traces of time on the Shikumen complex in the West Zone of Zhang Garden and made it a new landmark in the city with a new impetus for development. Such a rebirth, as a manifestation of Chinese modernization, brings the citizens the fruits of urban renewal. This time we’ve invited Yu Yong, Secretary of the CPC Jing’an District Committee, to talk about topics such as “the development of Zhang Garden and West Nanjing Road is the history of Shanghai’s urban change” and “Jing’an has the experience and responsibility to practice and interpret Chinese modernization”.
Moderator:
Four years of renovation have washed away the traces of time on the Shikumen complex in the West Zone of Zhang Garden and made it a new landmark in the city with a new impetus for development. Such a rebirth, as a manifestation of Chinese modernization, brings the citizens the fruits of urban renewal.
Yu Yong:
Yes. The development of Zhang Garden and West Nanjing Road is the history of Shanghai’s urban change. Jing’an has the experience and responsibility to practice and interpret Chinese modernization.
Moderator:
Wandering around the lanes of Zhang Garden, observant citizens will discover the mottled marks on the brick walls and the nail holes on the wooden window frames made by the old residents, but may miss the CCTV in the corners that are painted with “camouflage” and become one with the old buildings.
Shi Yunlun:
Normal cameras of the CCTV are either metallic or white with high density, and stick out like a sore thumb on the exterior walls of historical buildings. Thoughtful management means that you need to work on every single detail.
Moderator:
The “noticeable” historical building texture and “hidden” modern facilities constitute the epitome that Zhang Garden organically develops.
Shi Yunlun:
Yes. Since the beginning of the demolition work, we have considered delivering an effective basis for the subsequent protection and development of Zhang Garden, so we have followed the urban renewal principle of “retention, rectification, and demolition” and practiced the policy featuring “requisition instead of demolition and residents’ removal but buildings’ retention”. From the original design, the builder, and the first generation of owners, as well as changes and maintenance over the past hundred years, we have created files, from the text version to 3D modeling, with one file for one building.
Yu Yong:
Before the protective requisition was launched in 2018, there were 1,122 households and 42 units in this area, half of which were still using portable toilets. More than a dozen families are living in a house, with more than a dozen taps and water meters, in which there are even small attics and narrow stairs. The residents now have moved to their new houses, some of whom may come back and feel very surprised because of the strong contrast between the previous and current environment.
Li Lin:
It is also the first time in China to conduct an overall development of above-ground and underground spaces in historical-style preservation areas. In the future, the East Zone of Zhang Garden will see an underground three-story space, thus fulfilling the transfer of three metro lines. The supporting facilities of all above-ground buildings need to be expanded into underground space, which will activate the whole area and fulfill the purpose of urban renewal.
Moderator:
Now, fashionable life mixes with traditional culture and influences each other here, which shows its new look to embrace citizens.
Yu Yong:
The West Zone pays attention to the first store, first show, and first launch effect, and introduces experiential and leading fashion consumption. The South Zone will see a performance center in the future for on-site shows, and the North Zone will see an art gallery designed by Kengo Kuma from Japan. Therefore, here will welcome high-end business with cultural quality and convenient transportation.
Moderator:
The new West Zone of Zhang Garden comes back with the business district of West Nanjing Road endowed with the elegant tone of Hai Pai style Shikumen. More than 20 years of comprehensive development have transformed it into a landmark business district leading Shanghai’s consumption trend.
Yu Yong:
West Nanjing Road is actually the earliest road in Shanghai, where the first tram in the city runs. Renovation with strengthened functions and upgraded energy levels has shaped today’s West Nanjing Road. West Nanjing Road can be divided into four areas: From easternmost HKRI Taikoo Hui to “Golden Triangle” which is composed of Plaza 66, Westgate Mall, and CITIC Square, and to “Golden Five Stars” which consists of Park Place, Wheelock Square, Kerry Center, Jiuguang Department Store, and Eco City. In particular, the construction of the westernmost Union City will commence in December.
Yu Yong:
Besides, the existing mature commercial carriers have also been continuously improved through renovation. For example, with renovation and upgrading, JC PLAZA has transformed from a hotel into a compound commercial complex of “high-end office + high-end exquisite shopping center”. In July, it will welcome the first high-end store of the four pioneering fashion design brands under Italy OTB Group. The “Shanghai Airport City Terminal”, located in the prime location of West Nanjing Road, is being optimized and upgraded and is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.
Yu Yong:
Jing’an is an important birthplace of Shanghai’s building economy. Last year, Jing’an Plaza 66 became the first ten-billion-yuan tax building in Shanghai with highly concentrated economies in both headquarters and foreign investment. Plaza 66 has seen a tax revenue of RMB 9.5 billion from January to October this year and will exceed RMB 10 billion again by the end of the year. It is imperative to keep pace with the highest international standards and continue to improve the economic density and unit input-output ratio. If we rest on our laurels, we will be unwilling to work hard for progress. The goal set for the job is like the height of a basketball stand. If it’s too high, 100 people can’t throw the ball into the basket; while if it’s too low, anyone can make it and they will lose interest. Only by setting a proper goal and finding the gap can we be motivated to pursue it.
Moderator:
What new chapter will Jing’an write for high-quality development on the road of “Chinese modernization” in the future?
Shi Zheyuan:
We are committed to building a “Castle in the Sky” with drones as bricks and tiles. The drone performance at the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup was co-presented by us and companies in the Middle East, which consists of elements of China and Jing’an integrating technology and art. We should tell more stories about Jing’an.
Yu Yong:
With a history of more than 1,000 years, Jing’an Temple is famous for the “Sixth Spring in China”, and on the murals of Mogao Grottoes, you could find the temple. There are a lot of stories like this to tell. It’s a must to do a better job of telling the developmental history of West Nanjing Road and Jing’an’s stories.
Lei Mei:
We have developed the VI (visual identity) system for the whole city, which makes the city visible, knowable, and touchable. I think it is necessary to add more to the system for the urban public space governance and service system.
Yu Yong:
We need to conduct a systematic design on the whole block. The standard for urban cleaning on West Nanjing Road is that when you sit on the ground, you can enjoy maybe a street view, a telegraph pole, and a trash can, which you can see as artwork. With this standard, the city will become warmer with more distinct features.
Li Lin:
In terms of regional upgrading, can the buildings around West Nanjing Road be interconnected through some space of both the above-ground and underground?
Yu Yong:
In the newly developed areas where conditions allow, we are going to build utility tunnels. There are complicated pipe systems in the old city, that’s why it’s so difficult for Zhang Garden to connect the three metro lines in the underground space with such high investment. Of course, difficulty comes with challenges. For the advancement of underground space in Zhang Garden and the repositioning of old buildings, their archives and images of each stage will be retained for other projects to use, because we should bear the sense of responsibility, mission, and urgency.
Moderator:
On the new journey, people will be eager for diverse needs for a better life.
Yu Yong:
Jing’an will always put the people first and improve citizens’ life quality, so we will help residents with difficulties living in shabby, old, and small houses with full force.
Yu Yong:
The renovation of old houses is the largest item for Jing’an people’s livelihood. In April 2020, Jing’an District completed the renovation of old lanes and alleys below Grade II ahead of schedule and then turned the main battlefield of the renovation project to the remaining 47 old lanes and alleys below Grade II with nearly 140,000 m2. We will strive to take the lead in completing the zero-renovation task in the central urban area by 2025 and fully complete the renovation project of houses with small beams and thin slabs by 2027 and the uncompleted staff housing by 2032. Next year, we will focus on promoting the project of Fangua Lane in the West Tianmu Road Sub-district. It’s an old worker’s new village and the buildings here are built with small beams and thin slabs. The second round of inquiry will start soon. We will adopt the mode of Pengpu Xincun Sub-district to construct buildings in the place located by the demolished buildings.
Moderator:
Besides, since the first elevator was installed and put into operation in old publicly owned houses of Jing’an in 2014, Jing’an has become “No. 1” in many aspects.
Yu Yong:
From the installation of one building at a time to the whole community at the same time, 29,000 households have gained great benefits and we also propose installing the elevators as soon as possible. For the elderly, we need to solve the problem of elderly care. For a bed, we bring the services of elderly care institutions to the home. For a meal, we set up a canteen for the elderly. For some elderly people with difficulties in moving, we will deliver meals to their homes, from one meal to three meals a day. There are also a number of stations providing services for the elderly and “one-click query” services such as one-click car-hailing and one-click doctor-hailing. For children aged 0 to 3, the “most fragile group”, Jing’an has set up inclusive childcare centers. Particularly, Jiangning Road Sub-district is the first in China to build “baby houses” for temporary care so that infants and children under three years old can enjoy safe and inclusive care nearby.
Lin Li:
Up to now, there are four baby houses set up respectively in the elderly care service center, party-masses service center, public kindergarten, and residential quarter, which are well integrated with community service functions. An old lady once told me that she had no time to rest after her granddaughter was born 16 months ago. But now she can go to the university for senior citizens and have a dance after sending the baby to the baby house. Such service provides the residents with a sense of gain and happiness.
Yu Yong:
In response to parking difficulties, the vertical tunneling (shield) underground smart garage project developed by Jing’an District and China Railway 15th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has been implemented recently. The project plans to build two smart parking garages in the underground space of the greenbelt to be built, with 304 parking spaces, which are the first “open caisson” parking garages in Shanghai.
Yu Yong:
We always say that many a little makes a mickle, even small victories can add up. Every year, we will implement a number of major projects in response to the people’s livelihood problems, and strive to make the citizens see the fruits of the construction of a “people’s city” with ‘high-quality development, high-quality life, and efficient governance’.
Moderator:
For the final part, could you please talk about the expectations for young people in the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China?
Yu Yong:
Young people today are living in a remarkable time. They have an incomparably broad stage on which to display their full talents, and they have incomparably bright prospects of realizing their dreams. Young people are the future. We should optimize our environments of business and living to attract a large number of young people to work and start businesses in Jing’an to fulfill their dreams.
Moderator:
Thank you, Secretary Yu. Thank you all. That’s all for today’s interview. See you soon!