The Spring Festival is approaching, and the festive atmosphere of Lingnan is becoming stronger and stronger. The "Dongguan Memory" block located in Guancheng Street, the old city area of Dongguan, has also arrived at the Spring Festival Flower Market as scheduled. The flower market gate with the theme of the Year of the Horse, New Year's flowers and oranges, traditional cuisine, intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, and trendy cultural and creative activities... Strolling through the arcade streets, traditional customs blend with urban trends, attracting many citizens and tourists to experience the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year. Nowadays, this bustling neighborhood used to be a 'forgotten corner'. Dongguan Memory "is located in the historical and cultural district of Zhongxing Road Daxi Road in Dongguan, and has been a bustling commercial district since the Qing Dynasty. However, with the development of the city, the business model here has declined, and the arcade buildings with a history of over a hundred years have gradually aged, losing their former fireworks atmosphere. In order to promote the revitalization of the old city and continue the historical context, Guancheng Street has launched the "Dongguan Memory" project, transforming the old block into a comprehensive community that integrates multiple business formats such as residential, cultural, commercial, and tourism. While preserving time-honored brands and retaining urban memories, the neighborhood also introduces local trendy brands from Dongguan, combined with local cultural labels to attract tourists and young people, forming a virtuous cycle of culture and economy. ”Introduction by Huang Xiangmei, the project leader of "Dongguan Memory". The first phase of Dongguan Memory First Development Zone will open at the end of 2024. Over the past year, about 400 buildings have been revitalized and utilized here, 31 historical buildings have been protected and repaired, and about 80 brands and nearly 20 first stores in Dongguan have been introduced. Under the restored arcade, the fragrance of tea and coffee intertwine, and local trendy brands and intangible cultural heritage souvenirs are dazzling, gradually becoming a social gathering place for young people. Huang Jiahao, born in the 1990s, is a local of Guancheng. Ten years ago, he set up a stall here and gradually developed the "Haoji Pork Chop Bun" brand with over 20 chain stores. After the renovation of the block, he rented the store where he used to set up a stall and became a popular fast food restaurant in the block. I was born and raised here since I was young, and reopening the store here feels like the brand has taken root, "said Huang Jiahao. Relying on this neighborhood, the local community continues to create new experiences and consumption scenes, attracting people to come and go again: exploring local culture, collaborating with local artists and designers to create, holding arcade concerts, fun dance forest conferences, intangible cultural heritage markets, Shanzhou River Riverside concerts, etc. Nowadays, more than 200 various activities have been held here, with a cumulative reception of over 5 million visitors. We want everyone to see the collision between today and the past of the city here. Every time there is something new, people will be willing to come and consume. ”Huang Xiangmei said. The change is still ongoing. By the end of 2025, the second phase of Shoukai District will be opened. A rural market that combines old brands with trendy cultural and creative elements, a graceful Cantonese melody on the Shanzhou River, and a century old arcade performing traditional Chinese music and trendy music... "It's been more than 20 years in Dongguan, and it's never been so lively!" exclaimed Chen Bo, an old neighbor. In the store called "Guanfu Tea Society", there is a special exhibition hall about "memory", which tells the history and social life of Dongguan from old water wheel rotating leaves, "Dongguan County Annals", old doorplates, to a batch of old photos and objects such as Dongguan celebrity manuscripts and Dongguan middle school posters. This three story building used to be the Dongguan Grand Hotel that carried the memories of a generation, but now it has been transformed into a tea house that integrates a tea house, restaurant, and exhibition hall. The person in charge, Yuan Gongzhao, positioned this place as a new consumption model of "exquisite Dongguan cuisine+new Chinese tea". "New consumption is a combination of tradition and trend, with a greater emphasis on emotional value. We have improved it based on the taste of our hometown, paired it with Guangdong style tea products, guqin performances, etc., allowing more people to experience the collective memory and trendy culture of Dongguan," he said. For more and more people, "Dongguan memories" are becoming a harbor for old Dongguan people to find their roots and a window for new visitors to understand Dongguan. We hope not only to renovate this neighborhood, but also to drive the surrounding parks, cultural centers, etc. through the return of popularity, revitalize the entire old city area, and become a model for the combination of traditional culture and trendy commerce in Dongguan, "said Huang Xiangmei. (New Society)