Reporter Gao Bing-

Citizens and tourists visit the cultural and creative district of the old vegetable market. Photo by Gao Bing, reporter of this newspaper

Core Reading

Urban renewal is an important starting point for promoting the modernization of urban governance. Xi'an, Shaanxi Province has renovated and transformed the old vegetable market into a cultural and creative block in the market, and on the basis of adapting measures to local conditions and retaining characteristics, it has improved the environment, enriched the business format, served the merchants, and attracted makers. "Fireworks" and "trendy life" are intertwined, and the old vegetable market is full of new vitality.

In Xinyi Lane, under the root of the city wall in Beilin District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, citizen Feng Minzhong has lived here for more than half a century. After breakfast, it has been his habit for many years to go to the nearby vegetable market to walk and buy vegetables.

"In recent years, the old vegetable market has become more and more interesting." The old vegetable market that Feng Minzhong said is the Jianguomen comprehensive market in the alley, and the old Xi'an people are used to calling it "Jianguomen vegetable market".

Since 2019, Jianguomen Comprehensive Market has begun to be renovated. On the basis of retaining the original function of the vegetable market, the local area has introduced food, homestays, cultural and creative industries, reading, entertainment and other formats to create the unique charm of "Shijing Xi". Nowadays, it has been transformed into a cultural and creative district of the old vegetable market, attracting many citizens and tourists to come to "check in" and experience, and glow with new vitality.

remodel

Keep the undertones up and add creativity

"What can the vegetable market become?" Once, Feng Minzhong was not very interested in the renewal of the old vegetable farm.

建國門綜合市場所在地的前身是西安市平絨廠。1998年，由於市場變化等因素，廠子停產。其後，平絨廠將部分廠區改建成建國門綜合市場，實行自主招商、經營，使之成為涵蓋果蔬、肉類、百貨等的綜合市場，滿足了周邊近10萬居民的生活需求。

In 2017 years, Xi'an velveteen factory decided to upgrade and transform the Jianguomen comprehensive market. Feng Jie, the person in charge of the Xi'an velveteen factory, faced many problems: the business of the old vegetable farm was okay, but the streets were in a mess, the sewage on the ground was cross-flowing, the facilities were old or bad, and the renovation funds were not available.

"The merchant wanted to install an air conditioner, but I didn't dare to agree, for fear that the transformer would not be able to bear it." Feng Jie said frankly that not only the hardware could not keep up, but also the business model was a problem, at that time, the second and third floors of the factory were empty, and they could not be rented out - downstairs was a vegetable market, and people were noisy and unwilling to come to the office; The road is too narrow, trucks can't get in, and it's difficult to do warehousing.

At a loss, Quan Jianbiao, chairman of Xi'an Window of the World Industrial Park Investment Management Co., Ltd., came to the factory to discuss cooperation. "When I was playing around the city walls, I saw this 'old corner' of the city." As a practitioner in the development and operation of cultural and creative parks, Quan Jianbiao is optimistic about the value of the old vegetable farm, and also wants to use renovation to start this urban space.

After several rounds of consultations, the two sides reached a consensus on the concept of transformation. "We respect the lifestyle of local residents, and do not engage in 'changing cages for birds', but pay attention to local conditions." Quan Jianbiao believes that it is necessary to cherish the original fireworks and inject new vitality on the basis of maintaining the background color.

In 2019 years, Jianguomen Comprehensive Market began to be renovated. Retain the original building complex, remove illegal construction, develop roofs, corners and other spaces, and add overpasses, corridors, outdoor stairs, and sky plazas...... A series of measures have been rolled out in the old vegetable farms. The two sides have a clear division of labor, "Director Feng will continue to manage the vegetable market and undertake the 'fireworks in the world', and we will focus on the renewal of street business and undertake the 'poetry and distance'." Quan Jianbiao said.

The old vegetable market retains the simplicity and liveliness of the past, but it is cleaner and fresher than in the past, and has added diversified elements and characteristics, becoming fresh and fashionable. Seeing the changes in the old vegetable market, Feng Minzhong's thoughts also reversed: "The 'old bottled new wine' in the vegetable market has become a creative space, and even young people are rushing to come!"

harmonize

Aim at the demands and solve the problem

"The wet market is also an attraction?" Under the kind recommendation of local friends in Xi'an, Huang Xiaolin, a tourist from the south, decided to find out.

Coming to the cultural and creative district of the old vegetable market, Huang Xiaolin was dizzy: under the city wall, the music in the café was soothing, and the guitar was played at the door of the bar; The brick walls of the factory are decorated with oil paintings, lights are lit on the rooftop of Internet celebrities, and young people are taking pictures and "checking in" in front of the graffiti wall. In the bustling crowd, old residents walked by from time to time, carrying bags and dragging carts, which contained meat, eggs and vegetables......

The old vegetable market is not only a vegetable market, but also a trendy gathering place. "The old neighbors with vegetables and the young people with coffee are just blended together, and the market atmosphere is mixed with a sense of fashion, which is fascinating." Huang Xiaolin said.

Behind the harmony and fun, there is a coordination guarantee before and after the transformation.

The Economic Development Service Center of the Characteristic Block and Headquarters Building of Beilin District, Xi'an is the competent department of the block. The daily work of Guo Jian, the former director of the center, is to connect with various systems such as commerce, cultural tourism, planning, housing and construction, and urban management, and do a good job in overall planning and coordination. "In the whole process and every link of block planning and design, construction and operation, we will listen to the demands of enterprises and help solve problems." Guo Jian said.

In order to finalize the overall design plan of the block, it is necessary to contact the planning department for details. Guo Jian and Quan Jianbiao went to the planning department together to negotiate many times, and invited experts to the site for investigation, and after several discussions, the case was finally finalized.

In order to enhance the enthusiasm of the neighborhood businesses, Guo Jian also connected with his colleagues with the urban management system and worked hard to win policies. "After coordination, on the premise of not affecting the basic order of the city, the stores along the street can operate in a timely and moderate manner in the demarcated area." Guo Jian said that if there is more space for businesses, there will be more vitality in the neighborhood.

The most memorable thing for Guo Jian is the contact with the cultural and tourism department. Across the road from the old vegetable field is the southeast corner of the Xi'an city wall. How to better link these two IPs has become a major issue.

"Tourists on the city walls can't get down, and tourists on the neighborhood can't go up. If it can be interconnected and two-way drainage, tourism resources can be shared. Guo Jian contacted the cultural and tourism department, and after many consultations and demonstrations, the entrance of the Jianguomen section of the city wall was opened, and the two IPs successfully "held hands". "The performing arts troupe on the city walls sometimes come to parade around the neighborhood to bring visitors an immersive new experience." Quan Jianbiao said.

Guided by government planning, government and enterprise cooperation and linkage, to achieve win-win development. "Through this working mode, we can 'escort' in all directions and take care of the secondary growth of the old vegetable farm." Guo Jian said.

Tsukimu

Youth entrepreneurship takes root and grows

Old vegetable market, new neighborhood. Under the guidance of creativity, many young makers have devoted themselves to this and taken root and grow.

Located in the "Kadokawa lacquer" lacquer art studio in the old vegetable field, the ornaments are antique, and the cultural toys gourd, tea set, lacquer jewelry, plates, etc. are exquisitely made and elegant.

"The girl who came to the store just now customized a lacquer bracelet and wanted to give it to a friend as a gift." He Xinyu, the manager of the post-90 studio, said.

From kindergarten to high school, He Xinyu lived in the city walls and in the neighborhood, and was a young old neighbor who was familiar with his surroundings. Starting a business at the door of his home made He Xinyu feel very kind.

"When I was a child, the houses here were still mud walls and the roads were potholes." He Xinyu said that later there was a vegetable market, and there were more shops on the street, which was lively, but it was also messy. Now looking at the renovated neighborhood and old vegetable farm, "it's really a little unrecognizable."

At the beginning of last year, He Xinyu, who likes lacquer art, decided to open a store in the old vegetable market and start a business. "It's a happy thing to do what you like in a place where you grew up." He Xinyu said.

is also a post-3, Feng Xi also made a similar choice. In 0 years and 0 months, Feng Xi, who has worked hard in other cities for many years, decided to open a Western restaurant in an old vegetable market at the foot of the city wall of the ancient city of Xi'an.

"Since the vegetable market can be integrated with the Internet celebrity block, I also want to try the collision of the ancient city wall and Western food." Feng Xi said that the store often invites customers to make coffee and desserts together, bringing a special sense of participation and experience.

One morning, Feng Xi saw a neighborhood's grandmother walking into the restaurant carrying meat and eggs. She ordered coffee, salad and said she wanted to experience the lifestyle of young people. Feng Xi said that that scene moved and moved me very emotionally - meeting people and growing up in this fireworks may be the meaning of opening a restaurant.

Walking through the cultural and creative district of the old vegetable market, the literary and artistic shops with the old factory building as the background have their own characteristics, and it is possible to find surprises when you walk into each one. New elements such as photography exhibitions and street markets have been added, and new business formats such as cultural creativity, tea and coffee have emerged, and groups of entrepreneurs have chased their dreams here, showing new charm to the old neighborhood.

Feng Minzhong, who once didn't have much understanding of "young people visiting the vegetable market", now enjoys a new life. At night, a music show was staged in the small square of the block, young people held guitars and sang, and tourists and neighbors gathered in groups to immerse themselves in it. At the foot of the city wall, Feng Minzhong also took out his mobile phone to record this beauty, "I feel like I'm just like this neighborhood, young." ”

Typography: Zhang Fangman

People's Daily (07/0/0 0 Edition)