Qianmen Street in Beijing will be reopened in October, after being closed off to all traffic for renovation. Nowadays, the street administration is inviting new businesses.

 

It is said that the 13 famous shops of long standing originality lining the street will resume their business, too.

 

The 200 new shops will be located on both sides of the street, covering nearly 70,000 sq m, including restaurants, retailers and shops providing other services. The invitation will last till the beginning of September. The places of the 13 long-standing shops have already been reserved.

 

"We are planning to invite some international enterprises to open their business here, too," said a staff member of the Qianmen Street administration.

 

The buildings along the street will be restored to their original look in the 1920s and 1930s, with well selected materials. The five traditional ceremonial archways on the street will be rebuilt. The street will be paved with slabs, and streetcars will be put in use again on the new Qianmen Street.

 

(Chinanews July 22, 2007)