China, Beijing. The redevelopment of historical neighbourhoods is nothing new to Beijing residents. In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games, many of Beijing's hutong were torn down to make way for high-rise apartments, office buildings and shopping malls. In January 2010, Beijing officials announced plans to gut the neighbourhood, called Gulou,12.94 hectares surrounding the Drum and Bell Towers, to make way for "Beijing Time Cultural City. However, in December the plans were 'officially...
more »China, Beijing. The redevelopment of historical neighbourhoods is nothing new to Beijing residents. In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games, many of Beijing's hutong were torn down to make way for high-rise apartments, office buildings and shopping malls. In January 2010, Beijing officials announced plans to gut the neighbourhood, called Gulou,12.94 hectares surrounding the Drum and Bell Towers, to make way for "Beijing Time Cultural City. However, in December the plans were 'officially abandoned' and only a museum will be constructed. Some residents, who live in cramped and often decrepit homes, are disappointed they will not be moved. Other long-time residents say they will fight to the end to stay in their ancestral homes: "Gulou is our country's heritage". Still the neighbourhood's future remains uncertain: in order to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status a new mass relocation from central Beijing is in plan..
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