Qianmen Street

Qianmen street, one of the Beijing’s most famous commercial corridors, have restored 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.

Qianmen is a district that most integrally preserves the local scenes, historical sites and
cultural relics. It has been a distinctive street since Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911),
famous for its architecture, business, folk-custom and operatic culture. Yongle emperor
of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) made Beijing the capital, and built it around a central axis
throughout south to north. The inner town had 9 city gates; Zhengyan Gate was in the
center of south town, usually called Qianmen.

The new Qianmen Street is 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.

Many architectures with Chinese and western styles are preserved, including former sites of Qianmen railway station and China Bank of
Communication, which are full of classical European architectural style, while Quan Ju De and Yue Sheng Zhai still keep their primitive and simple
Chinese style. Double eave roofs and royal colored drawings reflect the ancient charm, and some buildings have adopted relief sculptures such
as flowers, birds and atlas decorating walls, embodying distinctive feelings of the Republic of China. Many special street lamps are hung along the
Qianmen Street, their appearances imitate bird cages, rattle-drums and candied haws on
sticks, filling the street with Beijing flavor.

Tourists can buy silk products in a centuries-old Ruifuxiang silk shop, and embroidered shoes
can be bought in Neiliansheng shoes shops, sample the pure roast duck in Quanjude.
Besides, other traditional Chinese products are also can be bought here.