TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesexchange for horses. In the heydays of this Tea and Horse Ancient Trail 茶 馬 古 道 ,the market village of Shaxi 沙 溪 , flourished as a key midway stop, where theHorse Gangs rest, gather, and entertain. Elaborate guest houses, theatre towers, andmansions of local entrepreneurs co-existed surprisingly peacefully amongst thevillages and fields originally inhabited by the minority tribes of Bai 白 族 .The fall of tea and horse trade in the early Republican era allow modernization andindustrialization to completely bypass the remote place for nearly a century, untilre-discovered in 2000 and now recognized as the most intact ancient market villageon the Ancient Trail. Conservation specialists from Switzerland co-operated withthe Chinese government. They carry out the various extensive determined tasks,from overall environmental conservation (water / drainage improvement andgreening initiatives), and encouraging social sustainable developments (roadimprovements, managed tourism, assistance to local schools), to meticulousrestoration of significant buildings and revitalization of local business activities.The key is to safeguard the long term intangible heritage of the locals byimproving the conditions where they can continue and develop the traditionalactivities without the need or incentive to sacrifice the valuable and irreplaceableheritage. For example, the ancient theatre in front of the square was well restoredwith improved facilities and a museum inside, so that it can better serve thetraditional function of ritual performance as well as drawing in tourists. Thecomprehensive conservation approach adopted combines careful historicalresearch, systematic methodology, technical advisory and local craftsmanship.581