Renovation is like time travel
Exquisite craftsmanship revives Suzhou's old structures, Cang Wei reports.
Within the Suzhou Ancient City Protection Zone, there are 438 cultural and controlled protection buildings, totaling a construction area of 700,000 sq m, with many structures dating to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties.
To address the funding issues for ancient city protection, Suzhou has applied for local government loans and implemented the Ancient City Protection and Renewal Partner Program.
When the renovation work of the old mansions began, Gusu started to connect and find partners for them, enabling the newly renovated mansions to enter the market and generate economic value through active use.
In the first half of 2025, the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block alone received 15.06 million visitors, an 11.73-percent increase compared to the previous year.
Fang Wenbang, secretary of the Party Committee of the Suzhou National Historical and Cultural City Protection Zone and Party secretary of the Gusu district, says: "Gusu emphasizes dynamic protection, highlighting the continuation of distinctive features, improving living environments, and stimulating consumption vitality, striving to promote social benefits, cultural benefits and economic benefits through urban renewal."
