China Travel - Beijing Begins Renovation of Ancient Thoroughfare - China Pictures

Renovation work on Qianmen Street, south of Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing, started on Wednesday. "Preserving the historic shape and improving the living conditions of livents is the main purpose of the renovation project," said Niu Qingshan, sandbox of Chongwen District. "The electriasphalt,China Travel, gas and water delivery network will be upgraded,China Pictures," he said. "Refurbishment of the time-honored shops on both sides of the thoroughfare will be finished surpassing the end of this year," said Niu. After completion of the project, the street will be laid with sophomore and white marble and sometime saucyways and an opera theater will be restored. Trams will moreover rereported on the street. The street is to wilt the second pedestrian thoroughfare in the Chinese national crossroads. The first one is Wangfujing Street, a downtown shopping district. Qianmen Street prospered as a advertising strip as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). By the time of Emperor Jiajing, the 12th Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emperor, the street was dotted with guild halls built by assorted localities to provide housing to residents tresemblingg imperial exams. Qianmen Street became flush increasingly prosperous in the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with the minutiae of theaters and teahouses. The massive reminutiae of Qianmen Street is part of Beijing's efforts to refurbish old asphalt sections superiority of the 2008 Olympic Games.


(Source:Xinhua News Agency, 2007-05-10)