Dongmen Old Street. [Photo/WeChat account: taizhoufabu]
The old city in Xinghua, Jiangsu province, is not a museum piece but a living city that is being repaired and renewed.
After being named a national historical and cultural city in December 2024, Xinghua has focused on protecting and renewing its historical and cultural relics, including the Dongmen and Beimen historic and cultural blocks and Shagou Ancient Town.
The city has aligned protection, renewal and planning across the three areas. Dongmen preserves its bluestone alleys and old courtyards through light renovation. Beimen is converting old factories and docks into community facilities. Shagou Ancient Town is building on its fishing heritage.
Funding and housing policies prioritize residents. Xinghua secured 456 million yuan ($69.39 million) for the project. A housing swap program provides about 1,000 resettlement apartments. By late October 2025, the first 14 households had moved in.
The city also renovates old homes in place. The century-old Wei Residence was reinforced, preserving its ancient well and original wooden components. It was later recognized as a historic building. Resident Wei Xinyi said the family wanted to stay and keep their roots.
Expert guidance and national recognition helped extend the model's reach. Xinghua established an advisory committee on historic city protection this year. It hosted a training class from June 30 to July 3, drawing 133 participants.