THE protection and development of historic water town Nanxun have raised many controversial issues, pitting residents and historians against government and commercial interests.

This April, the government of Nanxun District granted Shanghai Profound Investment and Development Company (SPIDC) sole rights to develop tourist projects in Nanxun. Some experts and many local residents believe that the commercial projects will bring serious harm to this ancient town.

The disputes were triggered in June 2004 when the local government began to remove buildings in the ancient town to make room for a tourist entrance. This ignited outrage among experts and local residents who were unhappy with the whole programme.

Nanxun is a typical Chinese southern town in the north of neighbouring Zhejiang Province. It became a town during the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). The writers, artists and silk tycoons who once lived there are closely identified with this tiny town. Most of them were prominent in China's modern history. From Zhang Jingjiang - regarded by Sun Yat-sen as "the most outstanding person in China" and praised by Mao Zedong as "one who understands economics" to Xu Chi, a famous modern writer, generations of people born in this town made great contributions to the nation in various fields. Abundant architectural treasures were left in the town by such figures.

It is widely believed that Nanxun contains the largest group of ancient buildings of any of the southern water towns in China. Many heirs of the town's most prominent citizens still live in most of these buildings. It is not uncommon to find four or even five generations of a family living in one building.

The town is also famous for its old and unique private gardens. Some of China's first foreign traders lived here and they imposed western characteristics, especially in the private gardens. This is not found in other southern Chinese towns.

Sensitive move

The close connection between the old architecture and the historical significance of the town makes protection and development sensitive issues. In October 2003, the Nanxun government signed an agreement with SPIDC to create a tourism joint venture. According to the agreement, the town will allow SPIDC to manage the tourist business in Nanxun in exchange for more than 100 million yuan (US$12 million).

In April 2004, SPIDC was authorized to carry on protection and development projects in the town and manage the tourist business for 30 years.

SPIDC soon proposed a series of development goals: creation of a culture corridor along the creek in Nanxun and a district similar to Xintiandi in Shanghai.

Since this programme came to public attention, disputes and questions have multiplied. On July 6, people who attended a reunion party for Nanxun natives living in Beijing reviewed the "Protection and Development Project for Nanxun" that had been proposed by the Nanxun government. Qiu Baoxing, vice minister of the Chinese Ministry of Construction, who was born in Nanxun, said any such programmes should "maintain the ancient town's original style." Zhu Lilan, the former minister of science, who was also born in Nanxun, said "Nanxun should keep its grandeur and natural beauty" and the development programme for Nanxun "should not contain too many Western elements."

Some local residents questioned the co-operation between SPIDC and the Nanxun government. Zhu Beide, the chief manager of Jiu'an Public Welfare Company, said: "The programme involves removing some buildings. But most buildings in Nanxun have long histories and may have legendary stories. If people do not know the history of those buildings and just dismantle them, there would be great loss."

"Among the houses removed by the Nanxun government this year, (referring to the houses removed for building the tourism entrance,) some are 100 years or even 200 years old."

As the former Party secretary of Nanxun, Zhu has invested more than 200,000 yuan (US$24,000) of his own money to build a model of the original town at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Song Luxia, an expert in family histories of modern Shanghai, said the development programme will damage the original style of Nanxun. The Xintiandi District blueprinted in the programme is totally inconsistent with Nanxun, she said.

Priority concern

Officials from the Nanxun government also have something to say. Zhang Guoliang, associate director of the office of Nanxun government, said: "The protection development programmes set by SPIDC and the Nanxun government are only projections. Whether they can be carried out depends on the approval of the Huzhou municipal government and Zhejiang provincial government."

"As for the houses that were removed, this is not part of the programme. We had consulted experts before we removed these buildings. Even though some of the buildings are more than 100 years old, we did not think they had enough historical value to preserve them," Zhang added.

According to the Nanxun government, they are working with SPIDC to seek an effective way to develop the tourism industry of Nanxun, which includes protection projects.

Zhejiang Administration of Cultural Heritage and Zhejiang Construction Department have issued Document No. 177, which points out that "in Nanxun's historical and cultural protection area, there are State-owned irremovable cultural relics and precious sight-seeing resources."

The document goes on to say: "Any resources from scenic locations should not be sold or be sold in a disguised form."

Some experts and local residents question the programme and even doubt the legality of the co-operation between the company and the government. Zhu thinks that removing the houses to build a tourism entrance is ridiculous and is obviously related to the programme. Government officials said they "do everything legally."

Behind the disputes, only one thing will determine who is right: if the ancient town with profound historical value can be maintained in a fast-changing modern time.

Nanxun, Zhouzhuang, Wuzhen and another three ancient towns in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, were recognized by UNESCO's Asia and Pacific Bureau for their outstanding achievements in the protection of cultural heritages.

With the spotlight thus on the town, maintaining its cultural legacy should be the first concern of everyone involved in this protection and development programme.