24 dongchengspecial MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 DAILY

Dongcheng’s business district near East Second Ring Road and Chaoyangmenwai Avenue is home to the headquarters of a number of big name companies. JIANG JUN / FOR Dongcheng combines tradition, modernity

By HAO NAN of industrial centers have Along the East Second Ring emerged in Dongcheng. e Road and Chaoyangmenwai From the world’s largest Yonghe Cultural Creativity Avenue lies Dongcheng’s busi- imperial palace to Tian’anmen Area has 246 enterprises, and ness district. Square, Dongcheng district in an annual sales revenue of The area houses China houses more than 600 nearly 44 billion yuan. National Petroleum Cor- years of national history. The Qianmen area, to the poration, China National The area, which recently north of Tian’anmen Square, Offshore Oil Corp, Shenhua merged with Chongwen dis- showcases several of the Group and Beijing Mobile trict to the south, will soon be nation’s time-honored brands. headquarters. the nation’s cultural demon- The zone’s 103 businesses The Longtan Lake region stration zone, said a 20-year include famed roast duck res- is home to the country’s only government strategic develop- taurant Quangjude, tea retailer State-level sports industry ment plan. Wuyutai and cloth shoe-maker base. e plan calls for protection Neiliansheng. All-China Sports Federation, of cultural heritage sites. It In , luxury hotels the Olympic Committee of also aims to build the district and high-end shopping malls China, the General Adminis- into a modern international abound. tration of Sports and 31 sports metropolis, developing the A walk along the area’s com- management centers are all region’s commerce, tourism, mercial street is a must, a site located there. sports and service sectors. nearly as popular as the Forbid- e area has already become The service industry cur- den City and Great Wall. a global sports industry zone, rently accounts for 95.3 percent Wangfujing is hosting an said officials. of Dongcheng’s gross domestic international brands festival The Dongcheng govern- product. this September. Government ment hopes its many develop- officials hope the event will ment projects will showcase a Industrial areas attract world-renowned busi- dually modern and traditional The is the largest palace complex in the world. WU QIANG / FOR CHINA DAILY In recent years, a number nesses to the area. Beijing. Beijing hosts 1st international brand festival

By LU WEI multinational corporation level commercial street brand Beijing’s commercial invest- will take place on Wangfujing executives. development. ment environment and key Street thru Sunday. e first Wangfujing inter- A brand development and Delegates from the United industries and policies. e festival is sponsored by national brand festival opened world city forum will be held Kingdom, , Germany, Manufacturers and dealers the Beijing Commission of in Beijing yesterday. this morning. Discussions Canada, Singapore, France, of more than 200 well-known Commerce, Foreign Affairs The three-day event fea- will center on the role of glo- the United States and Russia foreign brands will attend. Office of Beijing, Beijing Bureau tures forums, promotion bally recognized brands in the will discuss related issues with Officials hope festival par- of Culture, Beijing Investment conferences and exhibitions. construction of international domestic representatives and ticipants can find time to visit Promotion Bureau, Beijing Participants include senior cities. experts. Beijing’s historical sites, as well Branch of China Council for officials from the Ministry At an afternoon forum, A promotion conference as study the city’s cultural her- the Promotion of International of Commerce and Beijing business leaders are expected set for tomorrow morning itage and tourism projects. Trade and the Dongcheng dis- municipality, as well as to reach a consensus on top- will introduce businesses to A brand culture exhibition trict government in Beijing. Wangfujing Street remains vibrant shopping area LU ZHONGQIU / CHINA DAILY A carnival is held in Beijing’s Jinbao Street yesterday to celebrate the opening of the first Wangfujing international By HAN TIANYANG Store first opened on the street in 2001, increasing the street’s new shopping malls such as fond of the road’s red granite brand festival. in 1955. commercial space from just Oriental Plaza also sprang paving. Wangfujing Street in In less than three months, 90,000 sq km to 360,000 sq up. “It is wide, flat and clean,” Dongcheng district is one its sales revenue stood at 16 km. Chen Dachun, a 69-year-old he said, adding that new signs of Beijing’s oldest and most million yuan, leading resi- And in addition to gov- resident living nearby Wang- were a similarly positive addi- District to be cultural famous shopping areas. dents to dub it the nation’s ernment funded buildings, fujing Street, was particularly tion. e 810-meter-long pedes- No 1 store. trian street is home to more Staff members quickly demonstration zone than 1,000 famous brands, became local celebrities. including Hermes, Gucci, Zhang Binggui, a candy Cartier and Armani. counter salesman was widely By XIAO HAO and modernization.” Shoppers may also purchase known for his ability to meas- A series of activities such the works of local brands such ure weight by hand. Newly expanded Dongcheng as intangible cultural heritage as Shengxifu, Ruifuxiang, Newly constructed Wang- district, home to more than exhibitions and free film shows Donglaishun and . fujing Xinhua Bookstore, the half of Beijing’s historical have already been scheduled. The street receives more then largest bookseller in the protection sites, will become New libraries, galleries and than 200,000 visitors in an country, also became a popu- a cultural demonstration zone recreation centers are also in average day, a figure that can lar stop. within 20 years. the works. easily rise to 500,000 during And other businesses soon To reach this goal, govern- Dongcheng district houses holidays, said government followed suit, opening their ment officials have organized Tian’anmen Square, the For- officials. doors on the vibrant shopping a number of events in recent bidden City, , street. years, including temple fairs, Temple of Earth and the Con- A prosperous history But aer reform and open- a Chinese traditional medicine fucian Temple. “Wangfujing Street is ing-up, the 700-year old festival and the South Luogu The area also has a large the epitome of the business stretch of road faced a new Lane opera. number of siheyuan, or ancient development history of New competitive business world. “We are devoted to perfect- courtyards, and hutongs. China”, said the area’s resident ing our public cultural service Government officials hope surnamed Zhao. Modern adjustments system to better satisfy resi- that in addition to such his- “In the 1950s, the street In 1992, the Beijing munici- dents’ demands,” said a district toric sites, tourists will also was not as wide as it is today. pal government began build- authority. frequent shopping centers like e most presentable build- ing a modern international “We hope to raise awareness Wangfujing Department Store, ing was the department shopping center along Wang- WANG HUIMING / FOR CHINA DAILY of cultural legacies during the Oriental Plaza and Sun Dong store,” he continued. fujing Street. Wangfujing Street, with stores housing many world-famous brands, is the commercial hub of process of internationalization An Plaza. Wangfujing Department e project was completed Beijing.