Taiyuan's Zhonglou Street wins the 2024 Asian Townscape Award due to its rich history. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Zhonglou Street in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, recently won the Asian Townscape Awards 2024.

The award was jointly established by four institutions such as the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. It recognizes urban activities and projects that have a positive and far-reaching impact on aspects such as harmonious coexistence with the ecological environment, sustainable construction of human habitats, and the preservation of historical culture.

The winning projects are intended to serve as examples to other cities across the world.

The award has been granted every year since its establishment in 2010. All applicants must pass the preliminary and final reviews of the relevant institutions before being eligible for selection, and must undergo a final evaluation by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and selection by experts from various Asian countries.

Located in the central urban area of Taiyuan, Zhonglou Street has been the commercial center of Taiyuan for over a hundred years.

The pedestrian street consists of 25 historical alleys, 36 historical buildings, 10 intangible cultural heritage items and practitioners (including two provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items).

The Taiyuan municipal government and Yingze district government, together with CR Mixc Lifestyle, completed the first phase of the renovation and transformation of the street on Sept 19, 2021, turning it into a comprehensive commercial district integrating historical culture, modern entertainment, and commerce.

Currently, among the shops on the street, nearly half are the first stores or flagship stores of various brands in Shanxi, mainly involving catering, retail, and cultural creativity.