UPDATE: Unfortunately, this event has been canceled. Stay tuned for any additional updates.

We at WildChina just received an email from our friends at the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center regarding the rumored demolition of Beijing’s hutong- and culture-filled Gulou [Drum Tower] area. In light of the potential restructuring of this historically important area, BJCHP is holding a special public meeting this Saturday, March 27 to discuss the future of the neighborhood.

As proponents of sustainable travel in China, WildChina is very much concerned with these developments and strongly supports BJCHP in their efforts to preserve Beijing’s incredible history. We hope you will, too.

The following is information from the BJCHP email:

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center’s (CHP) crucial public forum on the planned redevelopment of Gulou is being held this Saturday 27 March at Contempio. CHP is urging everyone to attend to help protect this unique neighbourhood for future generations to enjoy.

Multiple sources have indicated that a 5 billion RMB budget has been allocated to convert 12.5 hectares of the Drum and Bell Tower area into a ‘Beijing Time Cultural City’ – putting the neighborhood in serious danger. Such a massive scale development will include large infrastructures like public squares and a museum. As a result, there will be extensive evictions, demolition, and construction in this ancient area, and gone will be the traditional courtyards, hutongs, and local residents.

We hope to see you at the forum to hear what you, and other Beijing residents, think about this proposed plan. Please forward this email widely to other concerned Beijingers so even more people know about our forum and this threat to the Gulou area.

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 2:30 – 5:30pm
Venue: Contempio, No. 4 Zhangwang Hutong ｜北京市东城区旧鼓楼大街张旺胡同4号

Language: Chinese

Featuring:
He Shuzhong | CHP Founder and Chairman, cultural heritage legal expert
Wang Jun | Xinhua Senior Reporter, author of Chengji
Dominic Johnson-Hill | Plastered T-Shirts founder
Bian Lanchun | Architecture professor at Tsinghua University

This event is free. No pre-registration is required.

Find out more about the event and the redevelopment plan.