TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesSUSTAINING HERITAGE TOWNSHIPS IN CHINA:CASESTUDIES: SHAXI, SHAOXING AND CONGHUACHENG HUNG 1 EDWARD LEUNG 21 PhD Student, South China Technical University, Guangzhou2 Chair, Heritage and Conservation Committee, HKIA1. INTRODUCTION:China is entering a stage of stable development where the social / economicbenefits of big cities as well as smaller townships / villages have to be balanced.The enhancement of living standards and economic opportunities of traditionaltownships / villages have to be carried out within the context of respecting the builtheritage and cultural characters.This essay looks into three case studies representing internationally recognizedgood practices: Xideng Square township in Shaxi, Yunnan Province 雲 南 沙 溪 寺 登街 , Shaoxing Watertown in Zhejiang 浙 江 水 鄉 紹 興 , and Qiangang Village inConghua, Guangzhou 廣 州 從 化 市 錢 崗 村 . By studying three cases thatimplement diligent conservations, one hopes to find a way for sustainabledevelopments in traditional societies and built environments in China.2. SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES OF HISTORIC TOWNSHIPS:The threats to the traditional township and villages in China are two folds. On theone hand, the physical heritage environment is under growing economic pressures.Rising land prices drive out less financially capable traditional residents to make579