During the upcoming Shanghai 2010 World Expo, a batch of specially trained tour guides will take tourists from both home and abroad to meet with an "old Shanghai", by visiting the unique Shikumen buildings, some of the most typical Shanghai architectures that well combined both Chinese and western styles together.
The news was disclosed on the first district-level Expo 2010 forum held Sunday in Shanghai.
A culture research center for Shanghai's shikumen architectures, also known as "stone-gate" houses, was unveiled at the forum focusing on the protection of such trademark buildings of Shanghai. An official website of Shanghai Shikumen (http://www.shikumen.org/) was also launched the same day, which will better help introduce and preserve the past and current shikumen housing.
Shikumen, literally the stone-gate, refers to architectures with stone-carved pillars and archways, which were not only a unique style of housing but also a carrier of Shanghai's history and culture for nearly 100 years.
In the 1920's to the 40's, architectures which blended east and west influences were built all over Shanghai. At the peak time, up to 60 percent of the city's houses were built in this style, accommodating about 80 percent of the city's population. However, in the past two decades, most Shikumen neighborhoods have been demolished.
To protect the endangered cultural heritage, the Shanghai Expo organizers joined hands with Shanghai's Luwan District, a district with many shikumen architectures, and jointly sponsored Sunday's forum.
According to the theme of the 2010 Shanghai Expo--- Better City, Better Life, the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination will hold more district-level forums to help people solve problems that local communities are concerned with.
