Volunteers fight to save old Tianjin

• Source: Global Times
• [23:26 November 17 2009]
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The demolition of an old building at No. 34 of Yunnan Road.

Youshanli community buildings that have now been demolished.

By Wang Dong

A group of volunteers in Tianjin are continuing their fight to preserve the city's Five-Avenue Area, a famous historic and cultural conservation district.

Established in 2006, Tianjin Architecture Heritage Protection Volunteer Group have organized over 30 events in an effort to stop the planned destruction and rebuilding of the area. On Saturday, they gathered outside the Grand Theater of China on Harbin Ave in Tianjin, each armed with a camera. They then walked through the district and took photographs of old buildings along the streets.

"We are doing this all because of our love for the city," explained Mu Sen, founder and head of the volunteer group.

In November last year, Tianjin Municipal Government announced a tourism development project for the Five-Avenue Area. The project was to construct a tourism area that contained new shopping centers, entertainment facilities, restaurants and hotels.