Back to Kuanzhai Alley:
Where Art Meets You

Welcome
to the Chengdu Arts Bridge.

Serving as a bridge, we will connect with other art institutions in Chengdu to co-develop art projects centered on the city's cultural heritage. Through these initiatives, we seek to inspire community participation, promote cultural exchange among local residents, and rekindle a shared sense of collective memory.

A Cultural Landmark in Chengdu

Kuanzhai Alley was once a residential area for residents in Chengdu. After government-led urban renewal, rapid commercialization transformed it into a tourist attraction and city symbol. However, many residents no longer consider it part of their daily lives, and cultural heritage, local voices, and a sense of community are gradually disappearing.

We still believe that Kuanzhai Alley is important to Chengdu residents as a historical site. We are once again using art to help people reconnect. By introducing community-based public art, participatory exhibitions, and collaborations with local institutions, our goal is to transform Kuan Zhai Alley into a space of memory, not just a space for consumption—a place where residents can once again feel seen and heard.

Art Programs

In the urban renewal and cultural space transformation of Kuanzhai Alley, we have observed that the emotional involvement and residents' right to use their space in this historic district are gradually weakening. As a cultural heritage site highly shaped by commercialization, Kuanzhai Alley still urgently needs to find a new way to reconnect the local community, culture, and individuals.

Based on 425 questionnaire responses collected from Chengdu residents, field research, and institutional interviews, we have developed a community co-construction plan centered around public cultural intervention. In collaboration with Jinyue Children's Art Museum and XLY MoMA, we will organize a series of art and cultural activities at Sanlian Taofen Bookstore in Kuanzhai Alley. Under this framework, we have designed two key engagement modules: Parent-Child Cultural Night and Tea Space. These programs use “family reading” and “kung fu tea culture” as mediums to rebuild urban memory and revive a sense of belonging through immersive experiences and community participation. Both activities will be complemented by curated art exhibitions and performance art interventions, creating a vibrant and interactive cultural atmosphere.