Suzhou Street in Beijing's Summer Palace is gearing up for a Temple Fair that is to be staged during the Chinese Lunar New Year. The one time imperial residence is trying to bring back its Qing Dynasty festive look and present a special temple fair with an "imperial" aura.

The whole street is decorated in the spirit of the Spring Festival. Colored lanterns and business signs become especially striking against the white snow. Staff members are dressed up like people who lived during the Qing Dynasty. What's more, besides RMB, copper coins and gold ingots are also used for transactions in the 64 business sites such as stores and tea-houses along the street. And as this year is the year of the monkey, the animal will be playing a lead role in the proceedings.

Running 300 meters along the bank of Rear Lake in the Summer Palace, Suzhou street was originally built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, with stores, archways and bridges copied from those in Southeast China. The buildings in the street were later destroyed by the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. It was only in recent years that the street was wholly restored as a tourist attraction in the Summer Palace.

(CCTV.com January 13, 2004)