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ABSTRACT
The pursuit of cultural heritage conservation is particularly problematic in China as the country has been undergoing substantial changes in its governance processes in the post-reform era. As the regime becomes less authoritarian and more pluralized, a multitude of stakeholders (both state and non-state), are now involved in promoting, constructing, challenging and safeguarding a variety of meanings and values in heritage. This paper focuses the attention on the market sector and examines the extent of market forces in contributing to effective heritage conservation using the designated historic district of Xinhepu in the old residential district of Yuexiu in Guangzhou as a case. The concept of neoliberalism implies a larger role played by the market, which is defined as investment, expertise and innovations from the private operators. Informed by a review of relevant documents and publications, and semi-structured interviews with Guangzhou-based state- and non-stakeholders who have extensive knowledge on managing the historic district, this paper examines the achievements and difficulties of individual private operators face in protecting heritage buildings and historic buildings on the site. The findings suggest that Guangzhou has yet to fully embrace a neoliberal approach to heritage conservation. The conditions of extending market forces to successfully conserve the entire historic district include the formulation of a clear set of regulatory rules and the presence of implementing agencies with enhanced institutional and organizational strength, both of which are regrettably absent in the case.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Nanyue Kingdom was the first feudal kingdom found in South China, lasting from 204-111 BC. Its capital, Panyu, is today’s Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong (Ma and Chan Citation2003).
2. The boundary of the district stretches from Dadao Road in the east, Junyi Road in the west, connecting Donghua East Road, Xinhepu Chong, and Donghu Park in the south, and linking Miaoqian West Street, Miaoqian Straight Street, Sibeitongjin, and part of the site of the Guangzhou Railway Bureau in the north (Fang Citation2006).
3. The Kui Garden is located on No. 9 Xuguyuan Road and was built by a wealthy Chinese American, Ma Zhuowen in 1922. The Chun Garden is located on Nos 22, 24, 26 Xinhepu Road. It was built in the early twentieth century by a Chinese American. This Garden was the temporary residence and meeting hall for the Party elites during the Third CPC National Congress in 1923. The Jian Garden is located on No. 24 Xuguyuan Road. It was built by the Jian’s brothers who were the famous overseas Chinese entrepreneurs in early twentieth century. The Ming Garden is located on Nos 12 and 14 Peizheng Road. It consists of two three-story red-brick buildings but they have been undergone substantial renovation work. The Garden has now lost much of its heritage values. The Yu Garden is located on Nos 42 and 44 Sibeitongjin Road. The Garden was built in 1931 and consisted of two buildings which took direct inspiration from the British architectural style.
4. “Purple-line” is the boundary (indicated by purple line in official master plans) demarcated and approved by municipal authorities for the conservation of historic districts. Alternatively, it can also be used by municipal governments to indicate the boundary of historic building clusters subject to conservation.
5. Land Resources and Housing Management Bureau are in charge of managing government-owned building (gongfang) structures in the historic district.
6. Interview with a heritage manager at Guangzhou Cultural Bureau, Guangzhou, in September 2013.
7. See note 6.
8. Interview with the Deputy Director of the Office of the Committee on the Conservation of Guangzhou Historic City, Guangzhou, in November 2013.
9. Interview with the director of the Kui Garden Gallery, Guangzhou, in November 2013.
10. See note 9.
11. See note 9.
12. Interview with an architecture professor at Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, in October 2013.
13. See note 8.
14. See note 12.
15. See note 12.