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When people talk about the relationship between "protection" and "reuse" of famous historical and cultural streets, there is always controversy. So whether historical and cultural streets should be "reused" or simply protecting them is enough. ?

I have always advocated "one protection and two uses" for historical and cultural streets, that is, one must be protected and the other must be reused. Protection is the premise and reuse is the purpose. However, this issue has been controversial for more than 30 years. Some people believe that historical and cultural streets should only be protected to preserve and continue the outstanding historical and cultural heritage and context of the Chinese nation, and should not be reused. But I think this is too utilitarian. "Protection" and "reuse" are not contradictory. They are complementary to each other. Only when they are well protected can they be reused. If we do not give full play to the role of these historical and cultural streets and use them , you cannot protect them well.

Furthermore, from the perspective of society and ordinary people, should historical and cultural streets be protected or reused, or should they serve the people's growing material and cultural needs? Society and the people must see the role of reused historical and cultural streets in order to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm for protecting them. This is also in line with the central spirit of "people-oriented" and "benefiting the people" that we now advocate. Otherwise, local people will think that our protection of ancient buildings in the old streets hinders their pursuit of modern life. The general policy of the new "Cultural Relics Law" regarding the protection of famous historical and cultural cities, famous towns, and famous streets is "protection first, rescue first, rational utilization, and strengthening management." This is also a signal that there is no public opposition to reuse.

The ancient buildings in the old streets are the most suitable for human habitation

In the process of protecting historical and cultural streets, special attention should be paid to combining tangible material heritage and intangible spiritual heritage. This is because historical and cultural streets not only have tangible cultural relics, such as cultural relics, buildings, streets, etc., but also have intangible intangible cultural heritage, such as music, drama, etiquette, festivals, customs and habits, traditional handicraft skills, etc. A city must have a body, a sound and a rhyme. Therefore, the protection of historical and cultural cities must be both material and non-material at the same time, and both tangible and intangible cultures should be captured.

In addition, the protection of historical and cultural streets is different from the protection of cultural relics. Cultural relics can be placed in museums for protection, but historical and cultural streets are alive, and the cultural relics, buildings and scenery of the blocks must be protected. , we must also protect local traditional customs and intangible cultural heritage, and even make historical and cultural streets adapt to the modern life needs of indigenous residents.

The protection of historical and cultural streets should improve the living conditions of local people, such as installing modern public facilities such as heating, electricity, sewers, etc., so that these old blocks and ancient buildings can adapt to the modernization of local people. life needs. In fact, there have been constant debates about whether historical and cultural districts and old districts should be modernized since the 1950s. In my opinion, at that time, we regarded "roaring machines" and "bright chimneys" as modernization. Today, people regard them as modernization. High-rise buildings are regarded as modernization. Maybe these high-rise buildings will disappear in a few years, and living in old neighborhoods and ancient buildings will become a symbol of modernization! Because the living structures and patterns of these ancient buildings are the most suitable for human habitation and the most environmentally friendly.

The protection of famous streets requires integrity

Neighborhoods are an important part of historical and cultural cities and towns. Street protection also occupies the second most important position in the protection of historical and cultural cities, second only to In addition to overall protection, at the same time, the protection of historical and cultural streets also emphasizes integrity and systematicness.

Experts from relevant organizations should conduct specific and careful inspections and certifications of historical and cultural blocks, measure their historical value, scientific value and artistic value, etc., and demarcate the specific protection scope is the first task, and then "should demolish it" "If demolition is necessary, protection is necessary." The buildings in the block that have been announced as cultural relics protection units must be kept intact, but newly built illegal buildings must be demolished. Small alleys and courtyards must be evaluated for their value before deciding whether to protect them or not. . For example, if some old theaters and old buildings have historical and cultural value, they should be reborn and restored to their former performances. On the contrary, they can be transformed into restaurants, shops, etc. while maintaining their original appearance to serve local residents. .

From an overall perspective, for the purposes of visiting, admiring, researching, and filming, taking photos, etc., it is also necessary to protect the original appearance of the surrounding environment of the ancient buildings in the block and maintain overall coordination.