Shanghai's move, which caused public outcry, is really a promise to "get to the bottom of it and never tolerate it." On June 23rd, Jing 'an District of this city announced the results of the investigation on the illegal demolition of the outstanding historical building owner at No.888 Julu Road, and decided to impose a fine of 30.5 million yuan on the offender Wang, and ordered him to restore the building to its original state within 10 month. At the same time, the relevant government responsible departments and 10 responsible personnel shall be seriously accountable.
For the demolition of an old house, such a huge economic punishment, so many officials and responsible persons are held accountable, not only in Shanghai, but also in the whole country.
No.888 Julu Road is not a cultural relic protection building. Why is the punishment so heavy in Shanghai? Its significance is not only to mend after the sheep is dead, but also to open a temporary atmosphere.
To understand a country, we should not only look at its glamorous business cards, but also walk into the depths of ancient villages in the old city; To understand a city, we need to look at the vicissitudes of old houses, not just in new high-rise buildings. Brick by brick, window by window, behind them are vivid stories, spreading the mighty information of personnel metabolism and replacement.
In the rapid expansion and renewal of the city, old houses disappear in groups. However, historical humanities also have temperature, so a warm carrier is needed. Mr. Liang Shuming's definition of China culture is "everything that China people needed in their past lives". Everything in the past is a key to open contemporary China, a farewell nostalgia and a mirror of development.
The demolished 888 Julu Road was an English garden house more than 90 years ago. The designer is Hudac, a Hungarian who fled to Shanghai from a Russian prison camp. He also designed the "First Floor in the Far East" International Hotel, the Daguangming Cinema, the first performance venue in March of the Volunteers, and the huge boat-shaped Wu Kang Tower ... Shanghai gave him a legend of life for seven years, and listed 25 projects he designed as outstanding historical buildings in Shanghai. However, the gloom and elegance under the shade will spread all over the earth overnight. After the incident was reported by the media, public opinion was in an uproar, and the punishment was very heavy and very fast.
Behind the heavy punishment, we can see the sadness of Shanghai people. After all, the appearance of the old house may be restored, but the original historical atmosphere is difficult to restore, and the loss is difficult to estimate with money. Instead, such a thunder is regarded as a powerful alarm, warning people, especially grass-roots government departments, to put an end to similar behaviors, so that it is the consensus of the whole society to protect historical buildings and inherit historical context according to law.
After all, the old house was demolished in the old city in full view. Shanghai, which has always been well versed in the rules, should reflect on how old buildings with certain cultural value can be so fragile and lack protection. Indeed, as a CPPCC member in Shanghai asked, "Why doesn't anyone care about protecting buildings that have been destroyed for half a year?"
The resolute attitude towards the destruction of historical buildings is shocking, and it is time to protect historical buildings. Not long ago, the report of Shanghai Party Congress was very romantic. "The building is readable, the block is suitable for walking, the park is most suitable for rest, the citizens are law-abiding, honest and civilized, and the city is always warm." The fate of the old house on Julu Road tells us that it is still bumpy to realize all this.
We only have a history, but we have different ways to create the future. Choosing the warmest future, we can't lose "everything we needed in the past life" and discard those beautiful old buildings, which are the carriers of our ancestors' still vivid cultural accumulation and historical traditions. There is a thought of home country, a dream of home country, and a consistent spiritual pursuit passed down from generation to generation.
Shanghai's heavy punishment for destroying old buildings has made more cities and more people wary of the restless hand that extends to excellent historical buildings. After all, whether for a city or a country, being good at inheritance can be good at innovation. It is blasphemous to our ancestors and irresponsible to future generations to let the city fall because of immediate inducements.