The Chongqing Municipal People's Government has recently formally approved the "Protection Plan for the Eighth Batch of Historical Buildings in Chongqing (Central Urban Area)." This plan grants 13 historical buildings their own specialized statutory protection framework.
Spanning significant historical periods such as the modern treaty port era, the War of Resistance Against Japan, the early years of the People's Republic of China, and the reform and opening-up period, these buildings serve as vivid witnesses to the developmental trajectory of Chongqing. Among them is the Southwest Industrial Building in Yuzhong District, which witnessed a speech by Zhou Enlai and the founding of the China National Democratic Construction Association, embodying the legacy of the "Hongyan Spirit," the connotations of united front culture, and memories of modern national industrial and commercial development. Also included is the Haoqi Mansion in Beibei District at the foot of Jinyun Mountain, which bears the wartime footprints of modern industrialists and scientific figures like Weng Wenhao and Sun Yueqi. Furthermore, buildings such as No. 2 and No. 73 Luzumiao in Yuzhong District represent Sino-Western architectural blends that carry traditional Ba-Yu artisan craftsmanship from the treaty port era and are imbued with the vibrant atmosphere of old Chongqing's urban life.
Landmark cultural and educational buildings include the Chongqing Children's Library in Yuzhong District, the Exhibition Hall of the Huangjueping Campus of Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in Jiulongpo District, the Library in Area A of Chongqing University in Shapingba District, and the First Comprehensive Teaching Building of the former Chongqing Institute of Architectural Engineering. Additionally, structures like the No. 82 Dormitory of the Chongqing Geological Instrument Factory (originally the American Mission School at Songbao), which witnessed the dual history of modern missionary education and industrial development, record the century-long development of Chongqing's educational and artistic endeavors. Buildings such as the office building of the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center in Yuzhong District, the small auditorium and feed house of the Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica in Nan'an District, and the former Jiangbei Machinery Factory Cinema in Liangjiang New Area preserve collective memories of the inception of Chongqing's public healthcare, the development of Chinese materia medica research, and the industrial era, respectively.
These structures exemplify the wisdom of Ba-Yu mountainous construction, showcasing diverse architectural styles from the treaty port and city establishment period, the wartime capital era, and the Southwest Administrative Region period. Each site harbors unique urban stories, serving as vital windows for citizens to touch history and feel the city's cultural pulse.
The plan adheres to principles such as holistic protection of the building structures and their historical environments, effective protection that also facilitates urban development and quality-of-life improvements, differentiated delineation based on current conditions and planning requirements, and safeguarding and promoting the adaptive reuse of buildings. It precisely delineates protection zones for historical buildings and proposes corresponding control requirements.
The core protection zone focuses on safeguarding the building structures themselves and surrounding historical environments like old courtyards and ancient trees, prohibiting the construction of new structures unrelated to protection and utilization. The construction control zone is generally set at no less than 9 meters from the building structure, with the scope adjustable based on specific circumstances. New constructions or modifications within this zone must harmonize with the historical buildings, not exceed their height, and must not damage the surrounding spatial and landscape characteristics.
The plan explicitly prohibits unauthorized relocation or demolition of historical buildings. It mandates strict protection of core elements such as the overall architectural form and style, distinctive architectural details and colors, and typical building materials and structures. Buildings are classified into three protection levels based on their value: Grade I historical buildings should undergo restoration to recover their original appearance; Grade II historical buildings may allow moderate, reversible internal adjustments to accommodate modern usage needs; Grade III historical buildings may undergo reasonable renovation and upgrading.
To promote the preservation and revitalization of old buildings, the plan encourages the adaptive reuse of historical buildings for public functions such as cultural exhibitions and tourism services. It specifies incentives related to floor area ratio and building density and supports the installation of modern facilities like elevators and fire safety systems.
Historical buildings constitute an important component of Chongqing's "three-level, five-category" heritage protection system, which encompasses the historical and cultural city, famous historical and cultural towns and villages, traditional villages, historical districts, cultural relics and historical buildings, natural and cultural landscapes, distinctive cultural heritage, and intangible cultural heritage. Since the national initiative to delineate historical and cultural districts and identify historical buildings began, Chongqing has announced eight batches totaling 829 historical buildings. The Chongqing Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau is currently systematically carrying out protection, restoration, and adaptive reuse work for these historical buildings.
Comments