REVITALIZING HERITAGE: INTEGRATING THE GRAND CANAL'S LEGACY INTO MODERN SUZHOU

Jing Zhao; Ran Chen; Kailun Wang

All Papers

Submission

Paper Title

REVITALIZING HERITAGE: INTEGRATING THE GRAND CANAL'S LEGACY INTO MODERN SUZHOU

Authors

Jing Zhao
Ran Chen
Kailun Wang

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

5. Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Cultural heritage is increasingly vulnerable to disasters and conflicts and subject to rapid destruction, as evidenced by the recent fires, floods, earthquakes and escalating armed conflicts in different parts of the world. At the General Assembly 2023 in Sydney, ICOMOS Advisory Committee approved the theme of “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Preparedness, Response and Recovery” as the theme for the Triennial Scientific Plan 2024-2027. In keeping with the spirit of open, innovative, constructive intergenerational dialogue, and the strategic focus, this sub-theme will address the suitability of the Venice Charter with the theme of disaster and conflict-resilient heritage, emphasizing its broader implications for heritage discourse, development models, and resilience strategies.

Publishing Date

11/04/2025

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/846844-revitalizing-heritage--integrating-the-grand-canals-legacy-into-modern-suzhou

ISBN

978-65-272-1284-3

Keywords

Grand Canal; Suzhou Ancient City; Heritage Corridor; Cultural Landscape; Urban Integration

Summary

The Suzhou Ancient City section of the Grand Canal, originally excavated in the 6th century BCE, stands as a significant carrier of historical context, shaping the blue-green space pattern of the city and forming the unique cultural landscape of water towns. Suzhou, the only city along the Grand Canal to apply for World Heritage status under the concept of an "ancient city," serves as an exemplary model of canal-based urban development. However, despite the establishment of several public recreational spaces, the preservation and integration of canal culture within the modern urban framework remain isolated and weak, gradually diminishing the cultural value of the canal.This study focuses on the Suzhou Ancient City section of the Grand Canal, aiming to construct a systematic and diversified heritage corridor from a recreational perspective. Addressing the complex canal background, this research first organizes historical materials, relevant literature, and exemplary heritage corridor cases to summarize the relevant theories and practices, identifying the components and construction methods of heritage corridors. Through the study of the canal's historical evolution, functional development, and spatial pattern impact, combined with heritage inventories and cultural relic protection lists, historical resources are integrated and classified according to relevant heritage corridor standards, forming a resource system for the Suzhou Ancient City section.Based on this foundation, the construction analysis of the heritage corridor is carried out in two parts: the heritage corridor resource points and their spatial environment context. First, for resource points, the nearest neighbor index is calculated to determine their spatial distribution type, identified as clustered. Next, kernel density analysis is conducted to ascertain the spatial distribution trend of various heritage resource points. Neighborhood analysis explores the spatial relationship between resource points and the canal water system, determining the coverage of resource points within different ranges along the canal, thereby delineating the scope and spatial hierarchy of the heritage corridor in the Suzhou Ancient City section. Second, for the urban spatial environment, termed as the corridor matrix, a recreational suitability analysis is conducted to determine the suitability of different areas for constructing heritage corridors. Using the least-cost path model, the construction of heritage corridors on different types of corridor matrices is viewed as a process of overcoming resistance. The resistance coefficients of various corridor matrix factors are calculated and analyzed to derive recreational suitability, combined with the least-cost path analysis results, providing important reference points for the siting and planning layout of heritage corridors.Finally, based on the above analysis, the planning of the heritage corridor in the Suzhou Ancient City section and the design of the key area, Tiger Hill West Canal Park, are developed. The planning integrates heritage, the canal, and human-centric aspects, combining the construction of the recreational system to achieve a heritage corridor that honors the city's history and incorporates modern elements, creating a canal park that merges ecological resilience with urban vitality.

Title of the Event: ICOMOS SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM 2024
City of the Event: Ouro Preto
Title of the Proceedings of the event: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

ZHAO, Jing; CHEN, Ran; WANG, Kailun. REVITALIZING HERITAGE: INTEGRATING THE GRAND CANAL'S LEGACY INTO MODERN SUZHOU.. In: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings. Anais...Ouro Preto(MG) Convention Center / UFOP/ UFMG Campus, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/846844-REVITALIZING-HERITAGE--INTEGRATING-THE-GRAND-CANALS-LEGACY-INTO-MODERN-SUZHOU. Access in: 18/07/2025