I always really lliked these urban village and their down-to-earth people. I lived next to such a village when I was a volunteer in Xi'an and used to go have lunch at one of the small restaurants.
I was sad to see it go ... now, it is a xiao qu with modern apartment flats ... and a Hema.
Really enjoyed that, thanks. I've been to Xiamen a number of times but always business, and Quanzhou recently for sightseeing. Recognize that Minnan look and atmosphere they have. And yes, what a dialect! Did you see any Shi Gandeng?
I used to live in Xiamen near that spot.. It was 2018.. then I moved to 吕厝 in 2019 another 城中村. At the time I was a student at Amoy university, had around 3000 RMB a month scholarship from government.
I love Xiamen 城中村s , especially the area near the 中山路, if you go around and explore those little alley you still can find some spots with Maoist propaganda for the construction of the bunkers movement back in the 50's .. I read on some wall "深挖洞，广积粮，不称霸" ...I heard people telling me stories about how Xiamen Yuandang Lake and all the area in front of 湖滨南路 use to be sea, and how people on a voluntary basis use to work there to fill the land and create more space for the city... I know few the exact spots.. I had a period of my life when I was just idle around Xiamen island exploring every single corner .. haha so many good memory.
I always really lliked these urban village and their down-to-earth people. I lived next to such a village when I was a volunteer in Xi'an and used to go have lunch at one of the small restaurants.
I was sad to see it go ... now, it is a xiao qu with modern apartment flats ... and a Hema.
https://www.chinatalk.nl/swallowed-by-the-city-chinas-disappearing-urban-villages/
- Ed Sander
Really enjoyed that, thanks. I've been to Xiamen a number of times but always business, and Quanzhou recently for sightseeing. Recognize that Minnan look and atmosphere they have. And yes, what a dialect! Did you see any Shi Gandeng?
Great article. I think the slum reputation of urban villages comes from the 90s and before, when they were a lot messier.
I used to live in Xiamen near that spot.. It was 2018.. then I moved to 吕厝 in 2019 another 城中村. At the time I was a student at Amoy university, had around 3000 RMB a month scholarship from government.
I love Xiamen 城中村s , especially the area near the 中山路, if you go around and explore those little alley you still can find some spots with Maoist propaganda for the construction of the bunkers movement back in the 50's .. I read on some wall "深挖洞，广积粮，不称霸" ...I heard people telling me stories about how Xiamen Yuandang Lake and all the area in front of 湖滨南路 use to be sea, and how people on a voluntary basis use to work there to fill the land and create more space for the city... I know few the exact spots.. I had a period of my life when I was just idle around Xiamen island exploring every single corner .. haha so many good memory.
Enjoy that please keep on posting!!
Umberto