A local senior citizen looks on the
computer-simulated mock-up of how Beijing's time-honored Qianmen
Street will look after its current renovation. Redevelopment work
in Qianmen Street kicked off in May 9, 2007.
Renovation work on shops along Beijing's
time-honored Qianmen Street kicked off in May 9, 2007.
Beijing's Qianmen Street, which is currently under
redevelopment, will restore its streetscape to that of the early
twentieth century, through use of historical photos, becoming the
second pedestrian thoroughfare in the Chinese capital, after
Wangfujing Street, the downtown shopping district.
China News Service reports that the new Qianmen Street will not
be modeled after its state in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
(1368-1911), as its designers had anticipated, but into the form of
the old Qianmen Street in 1920s-1930s, a time period that left
numerous historical photos - by which architects can study in
forming the new street.
Wang Shiren, a chief designer of the new Qianmen Street and a
renowned architect, said the final plan was achieved through a
series of studies, discussions and revisions.
"The Ming and Qing Dynasties' Qianmen Street was burnt down to
ashes in 1900 when the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers ransacked
Beijing. Physically, there is nothing left for us to retrieve. The
final plan is based on historical photos, and we intend to form a
new Qianmen Street in the mould of the 1920s to 1930s."
After redevelopment, the new Qianmen Street will stretch from
the southern end of Tian'anmen Square to the Zhushikou Street,
measuring 845m in length. A trolley car, familiar to Beijing's
senior citizens, will return to the street and become the only
transportation vehicle on the pedestrian thoroughfare. An
underground parking lot will also be built to tackle the problem of
parking spaces in the Qianmen area. Time-honored shops in the area,
Qianmen Street's business card, will receive the greatest amount of
protection.
With its latticework of horizontal alleys, the north-south
Qianmen Street prospered as a commercial 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 different localities, to provide housing to citizens
intending to take the imperial exams.
Qianmen Street became even more prosperous in the early years of
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with the development of activities
such as lantern fairs, theaters and teahouses. Places like the
Guanghe Theater -- today threatened with demolition -- and the
Quanjude roast duck restaurant are part of Beijing's history.
The massive redevelopment of Qianmen Street, which began in late
2002, is part of Beijing's efforts to refurbish old city areas
ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.
(CRI.cn May 21, 2007)
