Page 87 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Anthropological observation of Lizhuang

“The primary method of uncovering history is by pork tastes good. Moreover, it is an old, well-
interviewing elderly residents who experienced established store.” (LZ06)
that era, speaking with the descendants of To accommodate tourism development while
scholars, and searching archival records for protecting the town’s historic stone paths and monuments,
historical materials related to Lizhuang.” (GW08) Lizhuang has implemented a passageway renovation that
“This is the book I wrote to introduce Lizhuang. prohibits private vehicle entry. Despite initial resident
It covers three major aspects: history, ancient dissatisfaction, the introduction of free and convenient
architecture, and legend. The town’s official public transportation has helped resolve the conflict.
branding slogan was also adopted by the
government.” (LZ01) “Inside the scenic area, we have set up a special
convenience car, specifically for the residents of
Beyond government efforts, Lizhuang’s cultural elites the historical town, free of charge. It ensures their
also played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting daily commute, with a car arriving every 10 min.”
this history. They compiled personal writings, assisted Yue (GW08)
Nan (author of Nandu Beigui) in collecting historical field
data, and established a Lizhuang bookstore in the ancestral 3.3.2. Retention of spatial properties of daily life
house on Xizi Lane, located in the town’s core area. In contrast to “empty shell” historical towns, where the
3.2.3. Folk ceremony performance original community has been completely displaced by
external entrepreneurs, and most or all local residents have
The Grass Dragon Dance of Lizhuang was recognized as moved out, Lizhuang has retained its character as a living
part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Sichuan Province space for residents. Mahjong parlors and teahouses remain
in 2011. Traditionally crafted from straw, Lizhuang’s grass prevalent in the alleys, while essential services – such as
dragons have undergone continuous refinements, with markets, barber shops, and health centers – continue to
current designs representing the fifth generation of this operate within the core area, ensuring the continuity of
evolving tradition. After 2011, Lizhuang Central School daily life.
established a specialized training class to teach students
the art of dancing with straw dragons, integrating this Many traditional houses in the alley still serve as
cultural heritage into the classroom. residences and elderly residents frequently gather at alley
entrances to chat, forming part of the town’s everyday social
“We took a boat from Nanxi to Lizhuang and landscape. Despite the impact of tourism development,
saw the Grass Dragon Dance performed at the local authorities aim to preserve Lizhuang’s core area as a
entrance of the Hall of Patriarch. It was then that residential space, ensuring that the living environment and
we realized Lizhuang has its own distinctive folk lifestyle of local residents remain unchanged. To achieve
culture.” (YK15) this, commercial activities are being redirected toward
During the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival in 2022, the Moonfield scenic area, allowing the historic core to
Lizhuang hosted performances of the Grass Dragon Dance maintain its tranquility and livability.
(Figure 3). These events not only attracted numerous We hope to attract all businesses to the Moonfield
tourists but also provided them with an immersive visual scenic area, slow down commercial activity in the
experience of Lizhuang’s rich folk culture. core area, and reduce business density. Our goal
is to maintain the town’s daily life operations so
3.3. The role of daily life
that the core area remains a truly living historical
3.3.1. Preservation of daily life spaces and functions town. (GW09)
Unlike other historical towns, the core area of Lizhuang All of the above indicates that Lizhuang’s primary
has continuously preserved local residents’ traditional function as a residential town outweighs its function as a
business practices. By selling Lizhuang’s signature “Three tourist destination. This approach ensures that Lizhuang
White” products, locals not only sustain economic benefits continues to provide essential livelihood security, enabling
but also subconsciously reinforce visitors’ impressions of local residents to sustain their way of life within Lizhuang.
the town’s cultural symbols. A notable example is He San
Bai Pork Restaurant on Beijing Road, which remains a 4. Eroding identity: Placelessness in
popular dining spot for local residents. Lizhuang
“Local people still prefer to eat in the old street, Relph (1976) describes placelessness as arising from an
especially at He San Bai Restaurant, because the inauthentic attitude toward a place, the forced acceptance of

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4876