School of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, China.
School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
PLoS One. 2023 Jan 6;18(1):e0279979. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279979. eCollection 2023.
In China, rapid urbanization and the decline of the canal's shipping function have directly led to the decline of the space and style of ancient towns with canals. The ancient town of Xixing, known to be the first canal town, is located west of the Zhedong canal section of the Grand Canal. It used to be the most active transportation hub and trade transit point in the east Zhejiang Province. However, the canal is now facing problems in protection and renewal, which require urgent attention. For example, the streets of the ancient town are separated from the water system space, the self-organizing and development ability of the ancient town has weakened, and the spatial vitality is scarce. Firstly, by comparing and analyzing whether the canal is used as a road network under two different spatial scales, the area with the highest degree of spatial integration is obtained before judging whether the canal has an important influence and control on the street spaces of the ancient town. Secondly, as the canal is no longer used as a transportation network nowadays, the internal spatial structure characteristics of streets and alleys are analyzed. Finally, the topological structure analysis is carried out in the 3 km area from the border of the planning control area, and the integrated development of the ancient town space and urban transportation network is then discussed. Further, the vitality renewal strategies of the ancient town under different spatial scales are put forward to provide the empirical basis and decision-making reference for the better sustainable development of ancient towns with canals. According to research, once the ancient town is considered on a larger urban scale, the areas with the best integration and accessibility, like the water-adjoined spaces change to intersection spaces and urban road network areas. Consequently, in order to realize the sustainable development of Xixing ancient town, the city system must overcome its shortfalls in operation. The methods and conclusions in the paper can effectively contribute to the development of the ancient town. The research significantly helps to improve the average land sharing, commercial distribution, and public facilities layout in the practice of protection and development in ancient towns and provides an empirical basis and decision-making references for relevant management departments.
在中国，快速的城市化和运河航运功能的下降直接导致了具有运河的古镇的空间和风格的衰落。西兴古镇，被称为第一运河古镇，位于京杭大运河浙东运河段的西部。它曾经是浙江省东部最活跃的交通枢纽和贸易中转点。然而，运河现在面临着保护和更新的问题，需要引起紧急关注。例如，古镇的街道与水系空间分离，古镇的自组织和发展能力减弱，空间活力匮乏。首先，通过对比分析运河在两个不同空间尺度下是否作为路网使用，获得空间整合度最高的区域，再判断运河对古镇街道空间是否有重要的影响和控制。其次，由于运河现在不再作为交通网络使用，分析街道和小巷的内部空间结构特征。最后，对规划控制区边界 3 公里范围内进行拓扑结构分析，探讨古镇空间与城市交通网络的综合发展。在此基础上，提出不同空间尺度下古镇的活力更新策略，为运河古镇的更好可持续发展提供实证依据和决策参考。研究表明，一旦将古镇置于更大的城市尺度上，像临水空间这样具有最佳整合度和可达性的区域会转变为交叉口空间和城市道路网络区域。因此，为了实现西兴古镇的可持续发展，城市系统必须克服其运行中的缺陷。文中的方法和结论可以有效地促进古镇的发展。研究结果有助于提高保护和开发实践中古镇的平均土地共享、商业分布和公共设施布局，为相关管理部门提供实证依据和决策参考。
