Qianmen Renovation: Gateway to Prosperity
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12 beijingspecial THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 CHINA DAILY The Qianmen Street has been restored to its pastday style, reminding people of what the Ming and Qing dynasty royal pathway looked like. Qianmen renovation: Gateway to prosperity (1644-1911) dynasties and the many time-honored business One of Beijing’s most trolley bus that disappeared for operations that exemplify Chi- 42 years. nese business wisdom. historic neighborhoods e area’s opera house and irteen traditional brands guild hall — both city-level including Quanjude and relics — were restored. Several Bianyifang — both renowned gets a 13b yuan facelift temples, public bathrooms and for roast duck — have resumed other traditional structures business along the street. that fail to meet modern needs, were saved. Twenty-two others such as BY XU XIAO deteriorating living conditions As well, the hutongs and shoemaker Neiliansheng and and a commercial sector selling siheyuans — alleyways and tea dealer Wuyutai have also Visitors to Beijing are likely faked and poor-quality goods. courtyards — home to long- opened at Qianmen. to tour the Forbidden City, time Beijing residents, were e traditional businesses Tiananmen Square, the Sum- Start in 2005 repaired and protected to are now mainly located on mer Palace and city gates As Beijing continued to preserve the traditional look of the northern block between formerly connected by tall, prosper and modernize, the the city while improving living the dining street Xianyukou fortified walls. district government began standards of residents. and Zhengyang Gate watch- But for those who want to renovation of the Qianmen e intensive work not only tower. discover the past and current area in 2005. retained most of the historic To preserve the traditional lifestyle of locals, the Qianmen Six years and more than look, but also greatly modern- style, planners mandated area is the place to go. 13 billion yuan later, builders ized urban infrastructure. that most businesses along Qianmen Street and its have struck a balance between Underground pipes to carry Qianmen Street should be neighborhood have been wit- modernization and protection electricity cables, water, gas old-style Chinese businesses. ness to Beijing’s historic trans- while improving the quality of and heat were installed under They now account for more formations over two dynasties life for residents. the royal pathway, breaking than 70 percent of operations and serve as a showcase of the e renovation work called through the bottleneck that along the street, with foreign city’s folk customs, commerce for principals named the “four constrained improvements in brands comprising less than and culture. 100 percent”: To inherit and the area for decades. 30 percent. Peddling goods by chanting is a unique art for vendors at the street. At the south end of the old promote traditional Chinese In all, 17,000 meters of To add further support, a city and neighboring famed culture with 100 percent devo- pipeline was installed to carry foundation for the area’s time- have surged. Since the street Tiananmen Square, the For- tion, to save 100 percent of the public utilities that meet the honored brands was started officially reopened in 2008, bidden City and Temple of relics and valuable buildings, needs of both residents and in 2008 that will receive their revenues have generated Heaven, Qianmen Street was to protect the intact outlook businesses. more than 10 million yuan 30 percent of the area’s total. born along with Beijing when of the Qianmen area with 100 Seven major streets were from the district government The Quanjude roast duck it became the Ming Dynasty percent effort and to save 100 also renovated, with the annually. restaurant now receives 2,000 (1368-1644) capital more than percent of the intangible cul- revamped Qianmen Street The 35 old brands on guests every day that gener- 600 years ago. tural heritage. officially opened to the public Qianmen Street today also ate 450,000 yuan in sales, 25 Over those six centuries, the Eventually, a shining new in May 2008 as a city landmark enjoy lowered rents or are percent more than before the city underwent tremendous version of Qianmen Street to attract visitors during the even exempt from property renovation work began. changes — the fall of dynasties appeared. Beijing Olympic Games. management fees that would Qianmen Street currently and demolition of the city’s About 76 percent of the Renovation of the entire area normally total as much as 60 hosts 150,000 tourists and local walls — but life in Qianmen buildings along the street were was completed in 2009. This million yuan. shoppers every day. continued, even in the hardest repaired while maintaining year, a gourmet street and a As well, the local govern- times, creating historical and their original look. The rest Taiwan commercial zone were ment encourages brands to Multiple cultures cultural legacies that survive were rebuilt. added as attractions for both apply for intangible cultural During planning and imple- today. Workers also repaired shoppers and tourists. heritage status to enhance mentation of the renovation, But in the past few decades and restored the symbols of protection of their intellectual the local government decided local residents and authorities Qianmen — the decorated Revived prosperity property rights and become to make the area a showcase have faced new problems — archway of Zhengyang Gate, As one of the most tradition- better known. of not only local life, com- endangered ancient buildings the 816-meter-long royal al areas of Beijing, Qianmen After the renovation, sales merce and culture, but also for and relics, outdated facilities pathway of the Ming and Qing Street has gathered together revenues at the old brands brands and cultures from the rest of the world. To restore the street in the style of the 1920s and 1930s, yet maintain the architectural characteristics of old Beijing, local officials invited 16 experts Above and below: A comparison of the Xianyukou, a gourmet to make suggestions on how to street in the area, before and after the renovation, shows a best protect the relics, hutongs substantial improvement in appearance. and time-honored businesses. The authorities also gave their support to modern domestic brands such as Li Ning and Honggu. International fashion and sportswear outlets along the street include Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, New Balance and Nike. With the Qianmen Street at the center, the area now has theme areas for folk opera, a street with time-honored brands, a Taiwan cultural and commercial area and a fashion- able entertainment zone. A number of multicultural activities including lantern shows, parades and interna- tional tourism festivals have recently been held in the area. The district government envisions the future Qian- men Street will be an urban business complex combining residences, eating, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and A trip out of the Zhengyang Gate gives tourists a vivid picture of the local life of the past and present Beijing. services. .