Shajing Ancient Fair

The rejuvenation project of the Shajing Ancient Fair in Shenzhen, China, is the largest historical district in the city, encompassing various historical sites, including the Longjin River, Longjin Stone Pagoda, old houses, ancestral halls, and ancient wells. However, the area has suffered from decay, with urban villages, temporary buildings and informal immigrant communities.

The rejuvenation of the Shajing Ancient Fair employed a technique similar to acupuncture therapy, strategically choosing key locations and making slight interventions to preserve the social structure and spatial integrity. The project encompassed six distinct renovation and new design groups situated along the banks of the Longjin River. These groups included the following: A. Landscape of Longjin River Bank; B. Longjin Water Pavilion; C. Public Stage; D. Ruin Garden; E. House of Gable Wall; F. Old House Image Gallery.

One of the projects, the Longjin River, had become narrow, polluted, and neglected. Architects adopted a low-cost rain and sewage diversion strategy to divide the river into two layers, the bottom layer for sewage and the top for rainwater. The riverbank was revitalized with flower ponds, seats, bridges, and walking paths, making it a public space for people to enjoy and experience.

The Public Stage serves as a means to activate the rich cultural heritage of the Shajing Ancient Fair through public space. Shajing, once a prominent bazaar and the birthplace of Cantonese opera and mantis fist martial arts, has seen a decline in its traditional cultures over time. To rejuvenate these cultural practices, architects have undertaken the restoration, transformation, and creation of various public spaces.

Architects : ARCity Office

Project location : Baoan District, Shenzhen

Year : 2019

Area : 1000 sqm