ABSTRACT
This chapter compares and analyzes the community life and associated physical setting between the past and present for the several case studies whilst also examining what authenticity might mean for China's historic streets. The formation of traditional streets in China occurred in the mid-Tang and the Song dynasties. The streets in imperial cities, through their openness, connectedness and seamless engagement with the general public, permitted an unprecedented degree of economic freedom and social interaction that in turn generated a close-knit urban community. The major streets in Imperial China, from the Song period onwards, were therefore socially-created productions that reflected a social consensus for a new urban economy that thrived on commerce. Historic preservation projects in China are purposefully planned, designed and developed in a similar manner to and often with similar profit-driven motivations to modern commercial developments. Traditional architecture in China exhibits a unique identity despite subtle differences across its many regions.
