Guangzhou Renmin South Road is a typical Lingnan arcade street. It has not only a historic spatial pattern formed by the development of modern commerce, but also Guangzhou’s first elevated bridge as a piece of modern transport infrastructure. Together, these elements have shaped a complex street that combines historic frontage, traffic functions, and commercial activities. The arcade street and the elevated bridge are clearly different in spatial form, use pattern, and environmental experience. As a result, the renewal of Renmin South Road has long faced the overlapping demands of traffic operation, historic preservation, and space revitalization. Under these conditions, traditional methods based on large scale improvement and one time reconstruction can no longer deal well with its complex problems.