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| Figure 2.1 Long journey from Zhuhai to Kaiping |
For day 2 trip,
after a long travelling journey from Zhuhai (it takes about 3-4 hours), we
arrived Kaiping and the main focus of this trip is to visit the old development
- Diaolou Cluster in
Guangzhou. It is worth for us, especially for some students with architectural
and urban planning background, to visit because the Kaiping Diaolou and
Villages are the World Heritage Sites, as described UNESCO in 2007.
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| Figure 2.2 General View of Chikan |
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| Figure 2.3 General View of Diaolou |
Here is some basic
information about Kaiping Diaolou, just in case some of the readers do not
familiarized with it. First of all, the original function of Diaolou was to
protect the resident from the attacks by gangster by its unique building
structure that is a multi-storey tower with thick wall so that this kind of
solid structure with good surveillance function to form a good defensive
structure, when compared to the other residential house in China.
Moreover, I believe
the unique architectural style of Diaolou is worth to discuss. First of all,
Kaiping Diaolou were built from the 16th century and Kaiping is
actually the place where was the major hometown for immigrants. Therefore, the
immigrants built their own house with the use of ideas and architectural styles
of the West to Kaiping. For example, they used reinforced concrete to built
their house that was rare in that time. Moreover, as we observed, the exterior
of the building was generally in Western style, rather than in Chinese style.
Therefore, the architectural style of Diaolou is actually the mixture of
Western and Chinese style.
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| Figure 2.4 Nice Weather and Building in Kaiping |
After the trip
about Diaolou, I have a strong feeling about the heritage conservation since
the heritage conservation of Macau and Guangzhou is excellent while the
Government of Hong Kong seem not pay much attention to heritage conservation in
the past so that a lot of historic buildings was demolished in Hong Kong, such
as, Queen's Pier.
It is truth that
there is very limited space and a huge amount of resident in Hong Kong so that
shortage of residential flat in Hong Kong is a hot issue. However, it do not
necessary mean that the Government of Hong Kong should only focus on developing
the residential building and urban renewal by demolishing the historical
building.
The related policy should be made by striking a balance between urban
development and heritage conservation. Actually, the heritage conservation not
only serves the purpose of the continuity of history, but also creates economic
benefits. Taking the tourism in Kaiping as an example, with reference to Ryan,
C (2011), the Tourism Industry targeted to attract 1.5 – 2 million visitors to
the City and to generate revenues of 50 million RMB. Therefore, it can be
observed that good heritage conservation can also serves as a tourism resource
and to gain economic development.
References:
1) http://www.icm.gov.mo/exhibition/tc/moheriE.asp
References:
1) http://www.icm.gov.mo/exhibition/tc/moheriE.asp
Date of access
08/08/2014
Date of access
09/08/2014
Date of access
09/08/2014
4) Ryan,
Chris, Zhang Chaozhi, and Deng Zeng. "The impacts of tourism at a UNESCO
heritage site in China–a need for a meta-narrative? The case of the Kaiping
Diaolou." Journal of Sustainable Tourism 19.6 (2011): 747-765.
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