NANJING: Li Caifeng, 95, had lived in her two-storey house for decades, but a few years ago, she decided to lease the building to a local development company specializing in historical renovation, with the aim of ensuring its longevity.
She moved to an apartment nearby, keeping a close eye as the old house was turned into a coffee bar. Apart from necessary renovations, many original features remain unchanged, from the general layout to the brick walls.
“Glass covers have also been added onto the wood stairs for protection,” said Tong Nannan, Li’s daughter.
“We have a wardrobe that has a history of about 150 years. It’s broken, but my mom didn’t want to throw it away.
The company said that they would help restore it and then put it back into the house,” Tong said. “We’re deeply touched.”
Li’s house is located in the Xiaoxihu neighborhood of Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province. Most of the houses in Xiaoxihu, which covers an area of 46,900 square meters, are in poor condition.
In 2017, the local government launched a renovation project to improve living conditions in the area, handing responsiblity for this mammoth task to the Nanjing Historical City Protection Construction (Group) Co., Ltd.
The company offered to renovate homes in the area, preserving many of their original features, while giving residents the chance to lease or sell the properties to the company. Some of the renovated space could then be used for commercial purposes, helping to boost the local economy. – Agencies
