Coverage by Shanghai Planning and Land Resources Administration

To comprehensively advance urban renewal, in 2016 the Shanghai Planning and Land Resources Administration launched four major initiatives: the "Shared Community Plan," "Innovation District Plan," "Charming Heritage Plan," and "Leisure Network Plan," implemented through "12+X" demonstration projects. The revitalization of Huangpu District's Bund Block 160 is one of the flagship projects under the Charming Heritage Plan.

On the afternoon of January 12, 2017, as part of the Bund Block 160 urban renewal project, the "Revitalizing Heritage" symposium – titled "Reviving Historic Buildings, Sharing a Charming City" – was successfully held in the old Municipal Government Building at Block 160. The event was hosted by the Shanghai Planning and Land Resources Administration, co-organized by the Huangpu District Planning and Land Resources Bureau, curated by urbanDATA, and executed by Shanghai Bund Historic Architecture Investment and Development Co., Ltd.

Distinguished attendees included:

• Academician Zheng Shiling of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Professor Yu Hai from Fudan University's School of Social Development and Public Policy
• Professor Lu Yongyi of Tongji University's College of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Zhang Lan, Director of the Shanghai History Museum
• Representatives from relevant government departments

Bund Block 160, located at the heart of the Bund historic district, exemplifies the area's grid-pattern layout with its intact block structure and continuous street frontage. Its centerpiece is the former Municipal Council Building, completed in 1922, which showcases distinct European Neoclassical and Eclectic architectural styles with exquisite detailing. As the former headquarters of the Shanghai Municipal Council – the highest administrative body of the Shanghai International Settlement – and later the office of Shanghai's first post-liberation mayor Chen Yi, the building has witnessed pivotal moments in Shanghai's urban transformation and carries generations of collective memory.

The symposium, themed "Reviving Historic Buildings • Sharing Urban Charm," used Block 160 as a case study to explore values of "heritage, integration, renewal, and revitalization." Discussions focused on restoring architectural features, reshaping block layouts, and strategies for infusing cultural functions, optimizing public spaces, and preserving historical continuity to establish a cultural benchmark for Shanghai's Central Activity Zone.

During the forum, lively discussions ensued among officials from the Shanghai Planning and Land Resources Administration's Detailed Planning and Heritage Departments, Huangpu District authorities, and multidisciplinary experts. Key insights included:

• Academician Zheng Shiling emphasized that "historic building renewal shouldn't be treated as commercial leverage – cultural quality must be prioritized."
• Professor Yu Hai proposed that "the new Municipal Council Building's vitality depends on both high-caliber future functions/activities and civic engagement through participatory, inclusive public interaction."
• Director Zhang Lan noted that "historic preservation requires more than government effort – private sector and public participation are crucial."

The symposium produced four consensus principles for heritage-based urban renewal:

1. Enhanced focus on programming strategies
2. Greater emphasis on mixed-use functionality
3. Stronger commitment to people-oriented design
4. Deeper appreciation for cultural diversity

The event's success marked the culmination of the Four Major Urban Renewal Initiatives launched since 2016.

(This report is sourced from the official WeChat account of Shanghai Planning and Land Resources Administration)