Shikumen pledged extra protection after readers offer city suggestions

Traditional life at a shikumen community at the Dadeli lane on Sichuan Road. — Wang Rongjiang

Shanghai authorities have welcomed the suggestions of Shanghai Daily readers on the preservation of historic shikumen residential buildings.

This follows a strong response from readers to a recent Shanghai Daily report warning that many remaining shikumen — distinctive Shanghai structures combining Western building style and China's courtyard structures — are under threat from demolition.

There are reported to be less than 100 shikumen lanes left in the city, compared to 150 just five years ago.

Li Kongsan, director with the cultural heritage protection department of the Shanghai Municipality Administration of Cultural Heritage, said the authority will list more shikumen as protected cultural heritage in an ongoing survey of historic buildings.

"Local government shares the desire of locals and expats to protect as much as the city's signature architecture as possible," Li said.

Many readers urged the authorities to retain the distinctive buildings, the first of which were built in the city in the 1850s by Europeans in foreign concessions to rent to Chinese residents.

"They can provide a different living environment for those who choose to live in such an enclosed community," said Shanghai Daily reader Russell Miller.

Li said this choice will be safeguarded for more residents as dozens of more local shikumen communities will be added into the list to be protected under the law.

Currently, only a few shikumen buildings with special historic meanings have been listed such as the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Huangpu District.

A series of other measures will also be taken, said Li.

Boutique hotels

The administration plans to turn some into boutique hotels or high-end apartments for renting, with the Shangxianfang Community on Huaihai Road the first in the trial operation, he added.

In another initiative, the administration will select several of the most valuable shikumen houses in a community to be protected, while demolishing nearby structures that are in poor condition, Li said.

"The current condition is that most shikumen do not merit protection, although it's still a pity if they're to be demolished," he admitted.

Developers building on an area where a shikumen with a preservation order is located can receive incentives during future development from the government.

Li said the buildings can host many different enterprises, as many Shanghai Daily readers have said.