Jiefang Road

Jiefang Road

Jiefang Road

Jiefang Road is situated in the central part of the old urban area of Pinghu City and is a major city road running east-west. The renovation project began in October 1996 and was finished in December 1999. After the renovation, Jiefang Road extends 1,708 meters from East Lake in the east to West Ring Road in the west, with a planned red line width of 40 meters. It is divided into northern and southern sections, separated by the city river in the middle.

The renovated Jiefang Road preserves a complete and harmonious local character reflective of the Jiangnan water town and a city close to water. The project emphasized retaining and uncovering historical and cultural heritage, safeguarding a number of cultural relics and historic sites, while constructing new buildings and landscape features that reflect historical culture. The Guan Di Temple Commercial Plaza, built on the original site of the Pinghu Guan Di Temple, is an important architectural complex along Jiefang Road, covering an area of 44 mu (approximately 2.9 hectares) with 36,000 square meters of retail space. Drawing inspiration from Shanghai’s Yu Garden and Nan-miao Commercial Plaza, and integrating Pinghu’s traditions, the plaza features a color scheme dominated by “grey tiles, white walls, and red pillars.” Traditional architectural elements such as upturned eaves, hip-and-gable roofs, sloped roofing, horse-head walls, stilted buildings, and lattice windows create a group of leisure-shopping and garden-style commercial buildings.

The redevelopment of Jiefang Road fully leverages its advantages of being near the lake and river, highlighting the charm of a renowned Jiangnan water town and cultural city. Green spaces and landscape features are arranged along both sides of the city river, forming a 17-meter-wide green belt landscape axis that runs alongside the river. The positioning and width of the river within the green belt vary flexibly, creating twists and turns that enhance the water-friendly landscape and form a picturesque scene with distinctive features of the local water town. Scenic spots along the route include East Lake Sails (a small plaza), Lu Gong Ancient Pavilion, Twin Dragons Stone Bridge, Baoxing Twin Towers, Han Shui Fragrance (a bridge), Self-Flowing Ancient Well, Commercial Plaza Stone Archway, Melon Village Childhood Fun, Ancient Bridge and Old Houses, Ladder Cloud Corridor Bridge, Water Town Nostalgia, and Peach Blossoms Announcing Spring.

Jiefang Road has become a bustling, garden-style cultural and commercial street rich in Jiangnan water town characteristics, where traditional culture and modern commerce blend seamlessly. "The beauty of street architecture, landscaping, and cultural landscapes" come together as one, with the graceful natural water-friendly scenery integrated into the vibrant commercial street, attracting merchants from all directions and enchanting visitors who linger without wanting to leave. In 2001, Jiefang Road was honored with the title of “Provincial Model Urban Street Appearance Road.”