Activate “today“ in ancient city of Dali

Activate “today” in ancient city of Dali The old city district of Dali is one of the famous tourist’s destination in Yunnan, China. More than 40 million tourists visit Dali every year to see this “ancient city.” The city continuously develops tourists facilities and its old cityscape. The development of Dali old city is highly focusing on tourism, and the city’s main streets are full of souvenir shops and new buildings decorated as “old.” However, those tourism developments are intending to keep the city as “old” and concentrating in the city’s central area, the west side. The east side of the city is left out from the tourism development and remain as “today.” But public facilities such as schools, markets, hospitals, the cultural and religious place are all in the west, and the east area is lacking lively public spaces. This project aims for developing today’s life in the east area of the city and keep touristic developments stay in the west. The main focus is developing an unutilized green space next to the military base in the south. Improving the accessibility from the surrounding and adding leisure and educational values to collaborate with the existing function on the west side. At the same time, open the existing green assets in the north to the public and create a new north-south spine of the public spaces in the east side. Convert inactive tourist facilities into new multifamily housings and support the new residents. In the end, the east side becomes “the center of today” from “the outside of the old.” 1