The old street in Dongxing Community has become increasingly popular after reconstruction. [Photo by Li Xusheng]

Dongxing Community was once the economic and cultural center of Dongfeng Town. Landmark buildings such as the supply and marketing cooperative old street, the granary, the ferry and the former winery bear the weight of the memories of many people in Dongfeng. However, as the city grows and shifts its center, these old buildings were gradually left in the depths of time.

In 2015, Zhongjing Cultural & Creative Industry Development Co Ltd proposed to reconstruct the old streets. As the "Fengchao Bay Creative Town" project progresses, the old streets begin to take on a new look.

Presently, such buildings as the old Xinhua Bookstore, the former supply and marketing cooperative and other shops along Xinghua Road West to Xidi Road still retain the look of old days, but they have been reconstructed and renovated.

The Fengchao Bay Creative Town, with a total investment of about 1 billion yuan, covers an area of about 3 square kilometers. The project focuses on transforming and upgrading the 100,000 square meters of hospitals and abandoned properties in the old downtown area of Dongfeng.

According to the plan, the Fengchao Bay will take Xinghua Road as its commercial development axis and Xidi Road as its tourism and cultural and creative development axis. It will mainly develop leisure sports and tourism, cultural and creative industry, business incubation and supporting business and build a historical and cultural commercial area, a healthcare area, a cultural & creative science and education area, and a sports and ecological tourism area.

Liang Zhenkang, General Manager and Executive Director of Zhongjing Cultural & Creative Industry Development Co Ltd, said the renovation and development of such buildings that were constructed in the 1960s and the 1970s as the supply and marketing cooperative, the ferry and the former winery have been completed.

"We plan to build a supply and marketing cooperative museum and an agricultural support service center here," said Liang Zhenkang, adding that the planned supply and marketing cooperative museum and ferry and ships exhibition hall will be built to demonstrate the stories of these old buildings and show the transformation process of Dongfeng from an agricultural town to an industry-oriented town since reform and opening-up.