2011

Authentic preservation at Pingyao reflects definition of sustainable development: development that provides equally for current and future generations in economic, social and environmental terms.

In 1997, UNESCO added Pinyao to its World Heritage list, calling it “an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city.” Ten years later, GHF began working there to preserve the vernacular architecture, revitalize and stimulate traditional arts, and establish special historic areas.

This summer, Dr. Vince Michael, a GHF Senior Advisory Board member, visited Pingyao and came away impressed with the work of GHF China Manager Han Li and the efforts of our entire Pingyao team.

He first recognized the great work done to restore the courtyard at 12 Mijia Xiang, which today serves as GHF’s field office, as well as a visitor and community center that every Friday hosts a presentation on local Pingyao culture. He also applauded the conversion of an intrusive, modern two-story cement structure in the courtyard into a traditional yaodong, a parabolic arched vault structure that provides natural heating and cooling.

Dr. Michael also toured the next physical conservation project GHF has planned at Pingyao: Fanjia Jie, a street where the extended Fan clan lived in a series of courtyard houses. Two houses, which have survived as Class I historic buildings, are to be rehabilitated for the families that live there, while the larger plan envisions restoring the entire street—not as a museum, but as a living place.

GHF’s local partners at Tongji University have completed a detailed conservation plan for Pingyao, incorporating both the conservation of important buildings and streetscapes, as well as essential issues of waste and water management, transportation and other elements “essential to the success of heritage conservation as a development modality.”

According to Dr. Michael, “Preserving historic buildings is not a challenge to development, it is a kind of development, and it is inherently a more sustainable development model because it incorporates those aspects of a community’s history which the community has determined are central to its identity.”

2009-2010

In 2009-2010, significant progress was made at Pingyao Ancient City, including:

Conducting architectural documentation of Fanjia Jie in Pingyao Ancient City.

Planning

A legal and scientific Master Conservation Plan has been completed and approved, the first in Pingyao’s history guiding all development and conservation
A comprehensive study of Pingyao, its historical development and its current state in terms of demographics, ownership and landuse was conducted and will inform further conservation and development efforts in this ancient walled city
A program of recording and monitoring changes to historic courtyards is underway, with 31 courtyards documented to date
Architectural documentation of Fanjia Jie has been completed, and accurate measured drawings and plans are being prepared for the master plan

The courtyard at 12 Mijia Xiang, before restoration (left) and after (right).

Conservation Science

The courtyard at 12 Mijia Xiang has opened to the public after nearly two years of repair and restoration and is in use as a field office and research center – the first privately funded authentic restoration of an ancient courtyard
After a quite severe winter, conservation and restoration work began again and continues to restore additional courtyards in the ancient city

Local community members present and attend lectures at the newly renovated courtyard at 12 Mijia Xiang in Pingyao.

Community

The restored courtyard at 12 Mijia Xiang is also serving as a lecture space for local residents to present their history on a weekly basis and has a reading room open to the public
Local artisans can also display their work and even use the facilities to produce their work, and exhibition space is also available

Partnerships

$1.5 million has been secured from Shanxi Regional Government for the entire Fanjia Jie district