Prosperity Goes On
1. Qianmen Street in festive mode on January 1, 2013
4. Customers wait in line for the opening of Beijing’s fi rst H&M store located on Qianmen Street on April 23, 2009
5. Lanterns are prepared before the start of the traditional Lantern Festival on Qianmen Street on February 15, 2011
2. A tourist poses for a photo with bronze statues in front of a time-honored restaurant on Qianmen Street on June 25, 2017
3. A Dangdang Che, now a sightseeing tram, runs on Qianmen Street on July 31, 2008
In 2008, Qianmen Street, a traditional commercial center with hundreds of years of history in central Beijing, reopened after renovations. Ten years later, it has taken on a whole new look. Hutongs, or alleys, and buildings near the street preserve the traditional architectural style of old Beijing. The old-styled trams, known as Dangdang Che, drove onto the street again after decades of absence and many time-honored stores reopened on the street. In recent years, large creative and cultural shops have sprouted up in the area in perfect harmony with the residential area and its residents.
Today, Qianmen Street and its surrounding area have become a new landmark in Beijing, something tourists shouldn’t miss.
(Photos by Wei Yao)