STORY: Traditional arcade houses regain vitality in China's Wuzhou
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 12, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 21, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:27
LOCATION: WUZHOU, China
CATEGORY: TRAVEL

SHOTLIST:
1. various of cityscape in Wuzhou
2. STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of Wuzhou Arcade City
4. various of the Xijiang River
5. file of flooded streets in Wuzhou
6. various of Wuzhou Arcade City
7. STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
8. various of Wuzhou Arcade City
9. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Resident in Wuzhou
10. various of Wuzhou Arcade City
11. various of Wuzhou Arcade City
12. various of cityscape in Wuzhou
13. various of Wuzhou's local cuisine
14. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): Restaurant owner in Wuzhou
15. various of Wuzhou's cultural tourism projects
16. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LAI ZHIGUO, Head of commercial investment at Wuzhou Arcade City
17. various of Wuzhou Arcade City

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"Arcade buildings, also known as Qilou, are a type of commercial and residential architecture where the ground floor recedes from the street, creating a public walkway."

Wuzhou Arcade City, constructed in the late 19th century, is characterized by 22 interwoven streets, with a total length of 7 kilometers. This conservation block has 560 arcade buildings, which is a remarkable scale and a rarity in China.

Situated in south China's Guangxi, Wuzhou serves as a principal maritime gateway along the Xijiang River. The riverside residents took into account the function of flood control in their early city planning.

STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"This ring was the residents' 'secret weapon' against the flood that used to threaten the city."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Resident in Wuzhou
"Wuzhou people are not scared of floods. The iron rings on the arcade houses were all used to secure boats. Do you notice how wide our windows are? In the past, when the water level rose, we would climb through them and use them as entrances."

STANDUP 3 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"The well-preserved Qilou streets have witnessed Wuzhou's boom as a business hub."

Here, you can immerse yourself in the rich history of a century-old commercial port, appreciate the blend of Chinese and Western architectural art, and savor a variety of local cuisine.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): Restaurant owner in Wuzhou
"We have a deep affection for this place. Therefore, people would like to come here and relive our old childhood memories."

Wuzhou pays high attention to developing cultural tourism while keeping the historical relics intact.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LAI ZHIGUO, Head of commercial investment at Wuzhou Arcade City
"The Arcade City has a unique historical depth. Many people have witnessed its rise, and during this time, we've focused on revitalizing its culture. We've incorporated a lot of interactive content, such as Cantonese opera and local cultural elements, to give it a fresh burst of vitality."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wuzhou, China.
(XHTV)