Resistance of the Stone and Fragmented Digital Collective Memory in Gulou, China

Gulou, a historic district in Beijing, China, has experienced successive urban renewal projects that have disrupted the community’s collective memory. Drawing on Halbwachs’ (1950) concept of spatial resistance, this chapter investigates the intersection between urban development and the politics of memory. The state's curation of history, exemplified by the 2010 enforcement of a late Qing-era map as the city's blueprint, resulted in the destruction of the existing urban fabric and the displacement of residents. This imposed historical narrative obliterated alternative memories, provoking resistance from locals and heritage advocates. In response, residents and heritage experts undertook both analogue and digital efforts to document and preserve Gulou’s cultural memory. As traditional ethnographic and survey methods prove inadequate in challenging the state’s narrative, digital platforms—such as blogs, newsletters, and social media—have become vital for recording, mapping, and safeguarding cultural heritage, local identity, and everyday life amid ongoing urban and social transformations. These digital archives not only contest the state’s selective historical representation but also foster alternative narratives that highlight the coexistence of diverse memories. As competing recollections of the past shape perceptions of space and belonging, this study emphasises how preserving digital memory serves as a form of political resistance against state-led urban erasure.