Song Ying, assistant manager of the KFC Beihai outlet, said therestaurant stopped service today following more than a decade of operations. The restaurant opened for business in 1993, and its ten-year contract with the park expired in 2002.

According to a local regulation on the management of Beijing's parks that takes effect this year, ancient parks and gardens should maintain their historical atmosphere, which often requires eliminating commercial operations.

In 2000, a bill passed by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference proposed that the business move out in order to restore the imperial style of Beihai Park.

Based on this proposal, the Beijing Municipal Administration of Parks and Gardens decided against renewing the company's contract and further stipulated that the restaurant could not expand its business during the remainder of its contract term. KFC said that it understood the decision and took special care of the Shuanghong (twin-rainbow) Pavilion up to the end of the contract. The lake-side pavilion will be rebuilt and opened as a rest area for tourists, according to park officials.

Located to the northwest of the Imperial Palace, Beihai Park was built 500 years ago and is one of the world's few remaining imperial parks.

There are now nearly 400 Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in 90 cities throughout China, including 40 plus in Beijing.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken Qianmen outlet, the first established in China, is the world's largest.

(People's Daily January 9, 2003)