Three lanes and seven alleys (3L7A) : the social value of a conservation area at Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China

Abstract

Nowadays, more and more Historical Conservation Areas have been formally established and listed as conservation has become a hot topic in China. In these historical areas, in order to attract more investors and tourists to promote economic development, there is a tendency to pay too much attention to the commercial aspects, sometimes ignoring the characteristics and values of the local communities. Three Lanes and Seven Alleys (henceforth referred to as "3L7A") is a typical historical conservation area, attracting more and more domestic and foreign tourists. During the study in Fuzhou University, the author often visited here. 3L7A is a historical block in Fujian Province, which can be traced back to the Jin Dynasty. The local government tried to revitalize the region through tourism, focusing on serving tourists and lacking attention to local community. The dynamic local conservation area has become monotonous. In the past, the government only emphasized its historical value, cultural value and aesthetic value. Its social value is gradually being forgotten. The ongoing urban design also focuses on the introduction of new entertainment and commercial projects. Therefore, further measures should be taken to protect the only historical and cultural conservation area in the center of Fuzhou under the pressure of urban development. Identifying its social value is a necessary step. Only in this way can the collective memory of local people be valued and protected, and the local area can serve local people. The research object of this dissertation is 3L7A which was named as one of the ten most important historic street networks in China in 2009. On site research and interviews with local people were conducted to determine its social value. This study can provide reference for further study on how to protect the social value of similar historical conservation areas in China.