This study is a continuation of dissertation and studies after that. The concept of most of the traditional city in Java are waterfront city. Old Semarang traditional city center used to have to move four times. All of them laid along the river. Jurnatan (1695), The Gabahan (1659), Sekayu (1666) and Kanjengan (1670). But there is no explanation about the formerly of the city form to support the Program Planning and Preservation of Heritage Cities. How were the traditional city patterns at the time? How to conduct adaptive reuse to promoting the heritage cities in Indonesia to be recognized as World Heritage Cities by UNESCO? The serial maps from KITLV. NL, Tropenmuseum and Atlas Mutual Heritage will superimpose on an aerial view from google earth. Analysing using a sketch and computer aided design will peel the layering of the development of the city along the river. The result will compare with the Johannes R hand drawing of Semarang in 16s centuries.The formerly city form of Semarang in 16s-18s centuries had a history as international port based on the maritime power at the time similar with Malaka. Malaka since 1984 become world Heritage site could become a best practice for next research to attract tourism.