On the morning of 30th, October,an urbanization seminar named ‘Strategies and Thoughts on the Revitalization of Historical and Cultural Districts in China and Abroad’was held in the great hall of Wuchang government. The event was a great success with the participation of Chinese and EU experts as well as the dynamic interactions between the panelists and the audience.

　　The CIUDSRC has invited the chief EU expert on Urbanization Mr Nicolai Peitersen; vice director of the CIUDSRC,vice president of the CAEP, council member of the CESC,Ms Youyun Zhang;Mr Jinkui Li, a senior researcher from the CDI(Shenzhen)，together with many other experts discussing about the strategies for the protection and development of the Historical and Cultural District of Tanhualin.

　　Mr Xiyun Kuang,the Chief director of the Wuhan Planning and Design Institute and officials from Wuchang District Committee, the Political Consultative Conference of Wuchang District, the People’s Government of Wuchang District have joined the panel discussion as well. Li Wang,secretary of Wuchang District Committee of Wuhan,said:"Through the format of speeches given by China-EU experts, panel discussion and interaction with audience, the belief of revitalize Tanhualin as a historical and cultural district with innovative management and humanity has been firmly strengthened."

　　Mr Yihong Cai,the general secretary of the CIUDSRC,together with Mr Qitong Xu has cosigned the strategic agreement of the Tanhualin Project.

　　Development and Reform Commission of Wuchang: As we all know that the existence of historical and cultural district will bring tremendous social and economic value to a city,however the government will be mainly responsible for the investment of its revitalization.I would like to ask Professor Jinkui Li,are there any practical methods for government to support and control during this process? Any successful cases for reference?

　　Jinkui Li: The protection of a historical and cultural district must be involved with government participation.But the money from the government investment should be fairly,efficient and well spent.Meanwhile this investment should be visible to the public for it is cultural heritage belonging to the whole society after all.

　　One successful case I would like to talk about is the project named‘The project of activating historical buildings’,launched by Hong Kong Government , it successfully brought back the lives of many historical buildings and embodied them with new economic values through collaboration with civil society ......

　　The Education Bureau of Wuchang: We have talked a lot about the cultural function of the revitalization of Tanhualin,but how do we integrate the educational function into this project to make Tanhualin an education base for patriotism education as well as a place for social practice of the students?

　　Qitong Xu: I believe there are three ways for us to integrate educational function of Tanhualin.

　　Firstly,we should involve our students in the revitalization of Tanhualin by visiting and being educated about the historical and cultural background of this neighborhood so to feel proud and honored;Secondly,we should give an all-around history introduction to the local Wuchang students, helping them to understand who they are and where they come from through the window of Tanhualin;Thirdly,since Tanhualin is the cultural and spiritual essence of our city’s development,what is the background story of this history and who were the actual movers? We shall put all these elements into the education to our students ......

　　Wuchang Cultural and Tourism Corporation Limited: Nowadays, most cases of revitalization of historical and cultural districts in China can hardly reach the balance of capital,thus I would like to ask Mr Nicolai Peitersen to share some successful cases from European countries.

　　Nicolai Peitersen: I have been to many cities during my stay in China.I realize that most governments develop land by trade. Whenever a government wants to make profit out of certain land, they would sell it out to the real estate developers,by which the historical and cultural value of that area will be lost in this process.In Europe, the government will evaluate the real value of the land whenever they want to invest in revitalization of an old district,and then impose tax on the local investor.This way,the historical and cultural value of the neighborhood will be kept while developing its economy.

　　Another notion I would bring to this topic is the community enterprises.There are many enterprises of this kind in Denmark who are very interested in investing in the historical ......

　　Shuiguohu Neighborhood Committee: Today’s seminar has helped us to see the real value of Tanhualin, which is quite different from the current reality.How do we lead our local residents together with the government to revitalize this neighborhood is our first imperative.I would like to ask Mr Nicolai Peiter that what the vision for Tanhualin is ? What should we do to realize this vision?

　　Nicolai Peitersen: To build a co-vision for the revitalization of Tanhualin is of great importance.I strongly believe that all the stakeholders including the local residents should be involved in this revitalization,everyone should have a say in this matter.We should hear more voice internally rather than externally, jointly discussing the essence of Tanhualin with the experts and local residents,so to find out the real vision for Tanhualin.

　　To build the co-vision calls for the establishment of brand strategy.Therefore we should come to a consensus to foster a value that contributes to the future development to Tanhualin. At the same time it helps to attract more enterprises ......

　　CCTV: As a historical and cultural district,Tanhualin carries the memories of generations in Wuchang.How do we combine the human concern with the value of Tanhualin? What is the core value of the revitalization and why we are doing this?

　　Qitong Xu:If I were to think about your questions in a philosophical way,then two answers need to be given, one is what the other is why.

　　What is the revitalization of historical and cultural district? From my perspective, I suppose the historical and cultural district should be the place where lies the most inspiring,advancing culture and spirit.

　　Looking back to the history of Wuhan,we had a glorious time after the opening of trading ports in Hankou in 1860 to Zhangzhidong was in power in 1981 and till right before the 1911 revolution.Wuhan reached all-around development of economy,culture,international exchanges in 50 years’time.The revitalization we are talking about today is to regain ...... 

　　Wuchang Bureau of Civil Affairs: Mr Li Jinkui has mentioned the innovative management to support the revitalization of Tanhualin in his speech.How do we integrate social construction and community governance into the revitalization? And how to integrate all stakeholders into the governance of the community?

　　Jinkui Li : I think you have seized the key point of the community governance of bringing in all stakeholders.At the third plenary session of the 18th Central Committee,the general objective in the coming decades is decided to perfect the socialism with Chinese characteristics and to modernize the governance system, which makes governance a key word for the deepening reforms in the future.The reason for the past failed cases of revitalization of old districts is that they were pure government actions without consideration of civilians and other stakeholders involved. But what Tanhualin is doing today is a human-based revitalization which people have a right to choose, and local residents can realize self-governance rather than being governed by authorities ......

　　Changjiang News: The revitalization of historical and cultural district should be focused on both architectures and human being.There are two types of architectures, those belonging to cultural heritage category should definitely be protected but what about those with historical value but yet to be recorded as cultural heritage?There are two types of people, local residents and tourists.How do we arrange the local residents and show the human concern for the tourists at the same time? How do we handle the relationship between those two in a harmonious way?

　　Jinkui Li : Many other historical and cultural districts have excluded their local residents outside,thus to create another Disneyland for tourists.But the local residents of Tanhualin are still there, thus what the tourists witness there is an alive neighborhood. But whether will tourists affect the daily life of local residents? Are they able to provide enhanced value to the tourists? This is a great question, for many of the old districts in China are out of the possibility to even face this challenge.The difficulty Tanhualin is facing now should be considered as a tremendous treasure at the same time ......

　　Wuchang Bureau of Land planning: Both the people’s government of Wuchang and Wuhan City have paid close attention to the revitalization of Tanhualin by scaling a number of practical plans. We would like to invite Mr Kuang to talk about the possibility to implement these plans and his thoughts on the strategies of the revitalization.

　　Xiyun Kuang: The implementation of the revitalization plan of Tanhualin is both vital and luxurious.There are many differences between China and Europe,for example our legal systems are of great difference.Comparing to Europe, we are lack of the definition of human rights and property rights in our General Rules of the Civil Law, which caused huge difficulties.Thus it calls for more creativity in the revitalization under such difficult circumstance,for which we should pay more respect to the great efforts done by the Wuchang government.Actually the implementation of the revitalization of Tanhualin is on pause right now for it is a street after all. But why? Because the city construction and social development in our country have always been revolutionary, many of which are destroyed in this process ......

　　I am very excited to take part in the seminar held in my hometown Wuchang. In addition to the achievements we have made on the revival of Tanhualin historical and cultural district in the past years, today we meet a new historical moment and a new start for the coming hard work. Thanks to the national and international resources, we are extremely confident that we can carry out our revocation to a more profound level with the cooperative elements that we brought in from abroad.

　　Our committee of urbanization promises to promote and conduct this project with you. Personally speaking, I will undoubtedly do everything I can to carry it through to the end, as Tanhualin does not only belong to Wuchang or Wuhan, it belongs to China as well. It is a historical obligation that we must undertake.

　　For the past years, only a small number of successful cases of protecting and striving the historical and cultural district had appeared. Why can't Tanhualin be a successful case? Due to the fact that there is no existing mode in such aspect, it is our job to fish out practical solutions with our wisdom, courage, and knowledge ......

　　User3627337891: The Seminar organized by Wuchang District provided Tanhualin with a new platform which exerts a great influence on its future development, especially on its international connections. The seminar commenced with the entry point of city organization and construction and developed to the issue of social governance, which broadened the horizon of related departments. It is also a reference to the solving of certain problems.

　　Art Tanhualin: Professor Li has made a believable and practical analysis on Tanhualin based on years of study and practice. He inspired us by explaining the features and routes and dissecting the necessity and feasibility of protecting the district. The experts of urbanization also enlightened us with their unique perspective, clear thoughts and passionate delivery.

　　nhxh_82385: good job!

　　Wuchang Xu: I have participated in several seminars, but I find this one fresh and new. The theoretical presentation of the foreign specialists, practical analysis of the local experts, and the interaction between the ......