China’s State Council Information Office on Sept. 10 held a press conference on the high-quality achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, featuring Shenzhen’s Nantou Ancient Town as a model for awakening the intrinsic value of natural resources.

The ancient town, once a typical urban village, has been transformed into a tourism hotspot and urban development highlight without large-scale demolition, officials said. By stabilizing property rights, optimizing spatial structure, upgrading business formats and improving living conditions, the area has been successfully revitalized.

At the conference, a representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources specially selected Nantou Ancient Town as an example to explain how we can awaken the intrinsic value of our natural and cultural resources through careful planning and preservation.

Nantou Ancient Town enjoy a a history spanning nearly 1,700 years. However, it previously suffered from high population density, deteriorating infrastructure, and poor environmental quality.

In 2019, the protection and utilization project for Nantou Ancient Town was officially launched. The project preserved the original six-vertical and one-horizontal street pattern with organic renewal.

The project explored a multi-party co-construction mechanism. Most original residents were able to remain in the area and share the benefits of the renovation, preserving the authentic atmosphere of the urban village.

Following its transformation, Nantou Ancient Town has become a cultural activity hub, hosting more than 150 cultural events annually. It has attracted over 300 exhibition halls, enterprises, and businesses. In the five years since its reopening, the revitalized ancient town has drawn visitors from across China and abroad, establishing itself as a new cultural landmark in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.