REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
Fuzhou officially names 'three lanes and seven alleys' street
By Hu Meidong and Liu Xintian (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-21 15:18

The inaugural ceremony of China's famous historical and cultural street, Fuzhou's "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" was held July 19 in Fujian province. The director of the National Bureau of Relics, Shan Jixiang, and Fujian provincial leaders Yuan Rongxiang, Tang Guozhong, Chen Hua, Su Zengtian, Li Zuke and others were on hand to unveil a commemorative plaque in celebration of Fuzhou's noted street.

"Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" is an ancient large-scale block dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties that has been completely preserved. It also boasts the titles "Museum for China's Ming and Qing Buildings" and "Living fossil of Urban Lifang System". On June 10, the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" was selected in the first batch of "China's Top 10 Famous Historical and Cultural Streets" after receiving the most public votes.

In his ceremony address, Shan said he hoped Fuzhou would be an innovator of the cultural relics protection system and continually protect and rehabilitate the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" to make it a positive force in the social and economic development of the West Strait. Shan also said the province aspires to set an example for relic heritage protection in China.

Tang Guozhong congratulated Fuzhou on behalf of the Fujian Provincial Commission and Provincial Government. He hoped Fuzhou would seize the opportunity of the central government's support to speed up construction of the West Strait economic zone by using the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" as a starting point. Tang also stressed the economic and social benefits of building the West Strait economic zone into a natural and cultural tourism center in China.

The vice governer of Fujian province and acting mayor of Fuzhou, Su Zengtian, said in his address Fuzhou would continually make efforts to protect and reconstruct the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" and apply for World Cultural Heritage status, with the goal of making the historic street Fuzhou's main characteristic. An international seminar entitled "Protection and Rehabilitation for the Old City" was also held that day. Leaders such as Shan Jixiang, Yuan Rongxiang, Chen Hua, Su Zengtian and over 60 local and foreign experts and scholars participated.

On July 20, "The Declaration for Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" for the protection of urban cultural heritage will be officially adopted.