During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities rapidly established temporary testing stations, makeshift hospitals, and other facilities, highlighting the importance of temporary use in emergency management and promoting the concept of “dual-purpose for both peacetime and emergencies.” This suggests that temporary use not only plays a key role in emergencies but can also serve as a flexible urban renewal strategy, meeting short-term needs and optimizing resource utilization. Guangzhou, with its rich historical heritage and flexible policy environment, has already seen several instances of temporary use. However, most of these instances are spontaneous and informal, lacking systematic management, and have yet to be fully applied in the preservation of historic districts.