Renewal projects and beauty spaces deepen community development

Cheng Jiechang, a resident of Huayuanxiang community in Qionglai city, Chengdu, said that Duan Mansion, a nearly 100-yearold residence combining Chinese and Western styles, has "come to life again" thanks to the local government's urban renewal project for Wenmaifang, an ancient street in downtown area.

As a key part in the renovation of Wenmaifang, Duan Mansion integrates traditional architecture with fashion and modernity.

It was opened to the public in July last year and turned into an urban humanities exhibition hall with a sense of history, art and design.

Projections, televisions, models, and other methods are used to display local cultures such as Chengmen cave, kiln, wine, tea and iron smelting in the ancient city of Linqiong.

"Duan Mansion is full of people and has become a favorite and frequent resting place for community residents," Cheng said.

"It's so lively; I come here every day to take a stroll and sit down."

The local Qiong tea and coffee, local ingredients and Western food have been combined to develop a variety of new drinks.

The mansion also includes local folk singing, dancing, Sichuan opera performances, cultural and creative markets, English salons and other activities.

There is also a small bazaar built by the community that includes free stalls where residents and charity organizations in the community sell handicrafts and cultural products in the evening.

Xinshan Bookstore next door is also a place for community activities, and many residents go to its bookstore to read books for free.

The renewal of Duan Mansion is the spark of Chengdu's life aesthetics and community development.

On Feb 25, Chengdu released its first group of 10 community beauty spaces, among which Duan Mansion was listed.

The 10 community beauty spaces have their own characteristics. Some have changed from low-lying shanty towns to online celebrity hotels that integrate fashion and traditional nature.

Others are bookstores that focus on reading and micro-museums on musical instruments.

One example is the Twelve Music Micro Museum, a micro-museum that integrates exhibitions and experiences.

Located in the core area of the Chengdu music lane, it is dedicated to disseminating knowledge and culture, with 12 elements including piano, folk musical instruments, guitars and wind music.

Lin Huimin, founder of the museum, said it includes almost all types of music fans and instruments.

"Those who want to learn about musical instruments can get authoritative opinions on music here, and they can also participate in the profession for free if they want to learn more."

In Lin's view, the creation of a beautiful community space is not only the creation of a space, but more importantly, the history and culture behind it.

For example, the Guyue Huwei Museum inside the museum has lasted three generations and carries the musical memory of old Chengdu.

"It not only displays boutique musical instruments made by famous artists, but also shows traditional instruments such as money plates and unvoiced drums," Liu said.

By building the Twelve Music Micro Museum, the region has built a platform for residents and musicians, encouraging the development of music, cultural exchanges and creative products.

It also incubates professional organizations to provide self-hematopoietic functions, which injects new vitality into reshaping the new scene of life aesthetics.

After the opening of the museum, hundreds of charity music classes have been carried out, and citizens have participated in related activities.

Lin said the museum will continue to hold public welfare music classes.

Public welfare concerts will also be held this year.

The local government sees promoting the construction of a community beauty space as a necessary response to the diverse needs of residents and an improvement to the service system.

The local government will create high-quality urban, social, and cultural scenes, brightening up communities with creative design and aesthetics and enhancing residents' sense of happiness.

The local government said advancing the construction of community beauty spaces is another innovative measure for Chengdu to deepen its community development and governance, implement the 10 major project deployments for a happy and beautiful life, and build a benchmark city for grassroots governance in the country.

In the next five years, Chengdu will build 3,043 community beauty spaces, and each community will build at least one beauty space.