Abstract：Dilemmas in the renewal of historical buildings and blocks in P.R. China is prominent. This article takes the Yuetan subdistrict as a subject, analyzes the process and influencing factors of morphological evolution through methods of historical geography and urban morphology, and aims to provide a case study for future references in preservation and renewal norms. This article shows that the evolution of district morphology is influenced by multiple factors, including the weakening of the constraints of natural base with modern constructions, the lasting influence of morphological frame such as railroads and the existing subdistrict patterns, and the increasing prominence of socio-economic aspirations, institutional policies, and other factors. This article suggests that the relationship between historical imprints and memories and modernization should be considered during urban regeneration, to achieve a balance between the preservation of historic districts and urban development.
