Objective  At present, the practice of urban renewal in China’s large cities is in the ascendant, and many successful cases have been produced. However, much less attention has been paid to urban renewal in small towns, and there are few successful practical cases in this regard. With their historical and cultural values being neglected, small towns currently faces a lot of problems such as population loss, dilapidated old city space, and slow economic development, making them no longer suitable for modern urban life in many aspects. Although in urgent need of renewal, small towns lack the motivation and standards for renewal.

Methods  The old city renewal project of Yongxin County adopts a multi-party collaborative approach. In the early stage of the project, the cooperation team carried out detailed planning, and selected the southern area of the old city centered on Xingfu Street, Minzhu Street and Shengjiaping Road to explore renewal strategy and method. The “Yongxin Model” uses the power of multiple subjects to carry out small-scale organic renewal in combination with government funds and social capital. In order to maintain the pattern of old streets and the living atmosphere of the old city, all the existing buildings are retained in the renewal practice of Yongxin old city, and the interface of street space is improved by micro-renovation, providing more possibilities for functional intervention and spontaneous renewal of buildings along the street. On the basis of maintaining the characteristics of the original streets and alleys, the renewal plan optimizes the infrastructure and ground texture of streets. The landscape team builds several small-scale pocket gardens using the open spaces along the street formed by the collapse of building. The landscape team also uses the height difference between the existing embankment and the city to place the planned municipal road below the flood embankment, forming a wide riverside belt garden and waterfront walkway above the road.

Results  The renewal plan respects the buildings, spaces and lifestyle left over from the old city, and introduces new functions and spaces while maintaining the texture and original state of the old city as much as possible. On the one hand, the renewal plan solves the safety and style problems brought about by dilapidated houses; on the other hand, it preserves the history and culture of Yongxin old city old and implants that into contemporary life. Yongxin old city renewal neither demolishes any building nor destroys the original facade materials of buildings, but adds modular combination elements to each building. These elements not only beautify the facade of buildings, but also take into account the practicality, effectively improving the style and quality of buildings. The renovated and newly built buildings maintain the pattern of the old city, and pipeline burying and laying and street boundary renovation make the old streets look clean and beautiful. The newly built pocket gardens not only meet the needs of residents along the streets, but also attract surrounding residents, becoming the most dynamic place in the old city. Rather than displacing the residents in the old city, the renewal plan improves the living conditions of these residents and meets their new needs, while maintaining their lifestyle and preserving the hustle and bustle of the old city. The organic integration of new and old buildings successfully continues the traditional culture of Yongxin, while bringing a new look to it, which not only helps Yongxin regain its own cultural context, but also further strengthens the cultural characteristics of Yongxin’s blocks through diverse elements, thus realizing the revival of culture. The improvement of the overall environment of Yongxin old city plays a significant role in attracting investment and promoting population return, which, coupled with subsequent planning and operation and implantation of various cultural activities, has greatly improved the commercial value of Yongxin old city.

Conclusion  Yongxin old city renewal explores a way to promote the comprehensive development of old urban areas of small towns. There will still be a large number of urban renewal actions in China in the future. Yongxin’s research and practice may provide useful reference and inspiration for old city renewal of small towns in China.