The former residence of Chiang Ching-kuo by the West Lake is going to open a McDonald's Garden Bureau: it's a cafe.

The door of Chiang Ching-kuo's former residence in the West Lake Scenic spot in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province is closed (see photo), becoming a deep mansion that has not existed for a long time, but it has made a comeback in recent days because of the news that "the old house has been transformed into McDonald's". The reporter learned from the Garden and Culture Bureau of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province on the 28th that the business project declared by Jiang Jingguo's former residence is not McDonald's, but a popular cafe, and requires the rational use of the building itself.

The iron general of Jiang Jingguo's former residence guards the door.

At noon on a foggy winter day, tourists frolic by the broken bridge, but very few people turn to look at Chiang Ching-kuo's old residence at No. 8 Beishan Road, on the north side of the road.

The villa was completed in 1931. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chiang Ching-kuo came to Hangzhou with his wife and children. Zhou Xiangxian, the mayor of Hangzhou at that time, allocated the house to him. It was said that Chiang Ching-kuo planted the sweet-scented osmanthus, palm, Tianzhu and maple trees in the courtyard across the lake from the villa Chenglu (located in a lakeside park) of Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling.

Today, the door of Chiang Ching-kuo's old house is closed and the eaves are covered with vines. Through the fence, we can see that all the windows of the building are open and it seems that they are preparing for construction.

The second landlord occasionally feasts and stays.

A few days ago, according to a notice published on the official website of Hangzhou Garden and Cultural relics Bureau, General tie may be laid off: "Hangzhou Garden and Cultural relics Bureau has accepted the application for environmental impact assessment documents for the new project of Hangzhou Shihan Road Restaurant Co., Ltd., Zhejiang McDonald's Restaurant Co., Ltd., on January 26, 2015." According to the official website, the restaurant is not a "McDonald's restaurant" in public impression, but a cafe, which mainly makes and sells bread, French fries and other pastries. After completion, there will be a total of 100 seats, with a total operating area of 335.27 square meters.

McDonald's Food Co., Ltd., which focuses on "hamburger fried chicken", only opens "mass cafes" in this prime location. what is the reason for this?

It is learned from people familiar with the matter that this may be due to the overall format planning of the West Lake Scenic area. Professor Song Feng of the World Heritage Research Center of Peking University, the main drafter of the plan, said at that time that in addition to cultural exhibitions and services, some historic buildings in the West Lake Scenic area could only provide small services such as sandwiches and light meals.

The person who rents a house to McDonald's may be the second landlord, a relevant person in charge of a real estate company. He signed the lease for about 15 years, and over the past few years, the house has invited a cook and an aunt to have two tables at the same time. Real estate developers sometimes live here, sometimes entertain a few friends, do not open business, and do not make money by cooking.

■ expert opinion

Can display old materials and old photos.

Some old Hangzhou people think that they should leave some space for history and culture and leave the film clean by the West Lake. There are also citizens who are very supportive and enjoy drinking coffee by the West Lake. Chiang Ching-kuo's old house should be rationally used and open to the public. More tourists think that one more McDonald's near the West Lake will be very convenient and solve the problem of dining.

Zhong Xiangping, an expert on the study of old houses in Hangzhou, believes that it is okay for Chiang Ching-kuo to find another way to open McDonald's cafes in his old house. "I have been to Chiang Ching-kuo's old house many times, and every time the door is closed." Zhong Xiangping said frankly that if Chiang Ching-kuo's old residence was transformed into a folk history memorial hall, no one would go to see it.

Zhong Xiangping said that the former homes of celebrities in Hangzhou have been increasing in the past 10 years. There are at least 100 cultural celebrity galleries in Hangzhou, but not a single tourist goes in for more than half of the day. In some museums, there are still many commentators and security guards, which is very distressing. "it is also a waste of social resources to post money in front of the public and be left out in front of the door." Zhong Xiangping said.

Zhong Xiangping suggested that if Chiang Ching-kuo's former residence wants to open a McDonald's, it must first be on the premise of not destroying the building. In addition, we can try to open a special McDonald's and make full use of the places that can be displayed in the restaurant to display some old materials and photos of Chiang Ching-kuo's old residence, so as to reflect the social effect.