As Shanghai modernizes by building shiny skyscrapers,it is also preserving historic architecture
　　The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is almost as significant to China as the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and after years of hard work, the city has entered a busy period of preparation for this event in four years’ time.
　　Known as the Paris of the Orient, Shanghai has often played a trendsetting role in the country, being famous for its modern buildings, stylish lifestyles and an international atmosphere.
　　As the 468-meter-high Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the eastern bank of the Huangpujiang River has become the symbol of Shanghai, little room seems to be left for its historical features. Yet, Shanghai does not lack historic buildings. Since it was opened to the West as a port city in 1843, it has been home to a host of Western-style buildings that shaped the city’s original layout.
　　As the city undergoes large-scale renovation, relocation and construction to prepare for the 2010 expo, what will happen to the old buildings hidden away in this crowded metropolis? A walk along the Huangpujiang or in certain downtown areas will dispel doubts about the fate of historic buildings.
　　
　　Taking care
　　
　　In total, Shanghai has 12 national-level historic landmarks, about which the local government collected information before preservation planning was done.
　　Two strips along the Huangpujiang have been the sites of large shipyards since the Westernization Movement in the late 19th century, in which a small group of progressive Chinese intended to keep China on a par with world powers by importing advanced technologies from the West.
　　Now, another historic mission befalls the banks of the river between the Nanpu and Lupu bridges--to serve as the venue for the 2010 World Expo.
　　Modernization does not necessarily mean the abandonment of history. Keeping this in mind, planners have tried to make the historic landmarks pleasant places to visit.
　　Given that the Jiangnan Shipyard, built in 1865 and one of China’s largest shipyards, is the site of the exhibition center of the 2010 expo, specific designs have been worked out. It was decided that the shipyard should be protected by developing it into exhibition pavilions without changing its original features. The shipyard is not the only historic site to be preserved in this way.
　　The Hongkou area in downtown Shanghai is abundant in historic and cultural sites of interest, including Western-style gardens, houses and lanes that used to be either Western powers’ concessions or residences of celebrities. Two historic conservation zones, of 129 and 29 hectares respectively, are bounded by Liyanglu, Duolunlu, Changchun Zhilu, Changchunlu and Shanyinlu streets.
　　After discussions and hearings, it was decided that no changes were to be made to the old buildings in the process of restoration. The project is not as simple as repairing damaged parts, but rather involves restoring every part to its original condition using state-of-the-art techniques.
　　For example, the walls of the buildings had become dirty or damaged from the effects of years of wind and rain. Skilled workers are using traditional techniques to maintain the original color and features.
　　
　　A multifunction zone
　　
　　In order to do as good a job as possible in the preservation, in the first place, the planning for the restoration in Hongkou was worked out by experts from Tongji University, a Shanghai-based university famous for its excellent architecture school, after a careful study of the history, overall architectural features and style together with the spatial layout of the whole area. It is on this basis that tailored methods have been designed for complexes in different styles.
　　Along the Liyanglu, there are 48 century-old garden-style houses, the largest pool of old buildings in Shanghai. According to the plan, this area is to be developed into a multifunction zone. While some of the garden houses are expected to function as residences for local citizens, others will be turned into offices, hotels, entertainment centers and tourist sites, according to their different structures and architectural features. In this way, more funds will be available for the further preservation of these houses of great historical value apart from government support.
　　Like any big city in China, Shanghai is under heavy pressure from a swelling population, and thus it seems unreasonable to leave so many well-preserved houses empty. Actually, most of the buildings have long been used for varying purposes and, more importantly, they are assigned new functions to keep up with the times.
　　Famous as a “Museum of World Architecture,” the cluster of buildings along the Bund, which stretches on the western bank of the Huangpujiang, began to serve as a financial and trading center in the early 1900s. That function has not changed, as the buildings remain important financial and commercial establishments, well preserved and making new contributions to Shanghai’s development.
　　While laws and regulations on the protection of historic buildings are in place, without support from local residents the restoration will turn out to be a temporary achievement. But how can residents be encouraged to involve themselves in the preservation efforts?
　　In the past, due to the badly designed interior space and outdated facilities of the old residences, living conditions deteriorated, but no one made the effort to upgrade the facilities. After the restoration project began, however, residents began to take action to preserve these buildings, especially when they were informed of the historical significance of their houses. Once they learned that their houses used to be the homes of well-known movie stars or writers, they began to treat the houses as treasures.
　　Aware of the historical and cultural value of their houses, residents volunteered to provide security and cleaning services for the houses, lanes and sites.
　　Some residents, such as Wang Fengqing, who is in his 70s, have taken photos of historic buildings in Hongkou for years. On their own, they organize photo exhibitions and tell stories about these buildings to new residents. In this way, more people have come to know the city’s history and cultural heritage and hence know how to protect their common treasures.
　　As the city is embracing the 2010 World Expo by speeding up its pace to become integrated with the outside world, Shanghai’s historic buildings and sites, rather than fading away, are presenting their unique charms, attracting visitors from all around the world.

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