Liangzhu New Town, namely Liangzhu Cultural Village’s heartwarming community covenant, crafted collectively by its residents, has given rise to a thriving and engaging community life, demonstrating the potential for a more promising future in communal living.
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Open Community in China
Today, I’d like to share an intriguing open community in China. My vision of the ideal future includes living in a sustainable cultural community alongside close friends, each enjoying independence yet connected through a humane, innovative, and dynamic social system. Many of China’s major cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, are dotted with closed living communities where neighbors often remain unfamiliar, a sentiment exacerbated by the recent pandemic. However, a cultural community situated in Hangzhou has caught my attention: the ‘Liangzhu Cultural Village.’ While it’s known for its somewhat Buddhist ethos, it’s proving to be an inviting place to live. Furthermore, it has evolved into a haven for ‘digital nomads’ in the post-pandemic era, making it even more intriguing.
The Story of Liangzhu New Town
Liangzhu New City, as introduced by ArchDaily, was initiated in 2000 by Vanke, China’s largest real estate developer. Rooted in Ebenezer Howard’s ‘garden city’ concept, it harmoniously blends traditional Chinese rural living with urban lifestyles. Located in what is now the northwest suburb of Hangzhou, this site, once a village, boasts a rich history spanning over 5,000 years, serving as a late Neolithic Age rice planting site in ancient China. Beyond its historical significance, Liangzhu is a treasure trove of natural resources, encompassed by 25 mountains, 5 lakes, and 1 river, creating a distinctive rural environment conducive to tourism, leisure, and residential development. The comprehensive master plan encompasses an expansive area of approximately 16,500 acres.
Residents of Liangzhu New Town
The construction of Liangzhu Community is evidently rooted in a sustainable planning framework. While numerous Chinese communities share similar natural settings, what truly sets this one apart is its distinctive humanistic character. The initial residents of Liangzhu Village comprised artists, scholars, and media professionals, drawn by the allure of a remote, idyllic village untouched by the hustle and bustle of urban life. Their presence has cultivated an environment conducive to idealism and romantic humanism.
In the wake of the pandemic, as urbanites grew weary of city life and embraced remote work, a yearning for a superior natural setting emerged. Consequently, freelancers, digital nomads, and independent developers have flocked to the Liangzhu community. The seeds of liberal humanistic values appear to have been sown from the community’s inception and have since flourished.
Community Culture
Liangzhu Cultural Village boasts a unique community covenant. Reportedly, over 3,653 of the village’s 4,000+ property owners participated in crafting this covenant. Following two years of meticulous review, suggestions, discussions, and comprehensive publicizing, the Liangzhu Cultural Village Covenant was officially unveiled in 2011. Comprising 26 articles, this covenant embodies warm-hearted agreements for daily life. For example, Article 4 encourages parents to teach their children first in case of conflicts, while Article 10 advocates lowering indoor noise during early mornings and evenings.
This foundation has fostered the development of volunteer organizations and societies within the community, inspiring community activists to organize a myriad of engaging community activities.
One such example is a retired Taiwanese couple who settled in Liangzhu in 2013 and organized numerous activities, including the formation of a baseball team structured around a “family” unit. Starting with a dozen members, the team has since grown to over a hundred participants, uniting parents and children alike. The neighborhood has become more vibrant as a result.
Last year, an intriguing initiative called “Crazy Thursday” emerged, wherein a group of independent developers and designers, initially strangers, would converge at a local coffee shop every Thursday. There, they’d work independently on their respective projects while engaging in spontaneous discussions and collaborations. The concept is so captivating that even residents from other cities express a desire to participate.
While a community’s quality certainly stems from its vision, design, and construction, the most valuable development often emerges from its residents and cultural DNA. The Liangzhu villagers inspire hope for a brighter future in community living.
Links & References
[1] https://chinaproject.harvard.edu/publications/new-towns-china-liangzhu-story
[3] https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2021-10-14/1946631.html
[4] https://house.hangzhou.com.cn/zt/qyxxzt/120301wk/node_62991.htm