Businesses recover in Lhasa after riots

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-05-2008 08:38

Nearly a thousand shops in Lhasa were damaged by last month's riots. But as life in the city returns to normal, more than half of them have opened again.

Nearly a thousand shops in Lhasa were damaged by last month's riots. But as life in the city returns to  normal, more than half of them have opened again. (CCTV.com)

Li Xiangnian is an owner of a small food shop in Lhasa's Beijing East Road. He reopened the shop on Friday.

In less than half day, he sold 1,500 yuan worth of groceries. Though traces of fire still remain, Li said he is no longer scared.

Li Xiangnian, Owner of Xiangnian Food Shop, said, "I was scared a few days ago. But now I feel very safe. My turnover is about two to three thousand yuan a day."

The Red Flag supermarket on the same road lost more than half a million yuan in the riots.

Despite the continuing repair work, customers here are now shopping at a leisurely pace.

Duosenge Road is the busiest shopping street in Lhasa. Dozens of shops were destroyed during the violence. But now shops have reopened, except some that suffered serious fire damage.

Qiu Yongjin, Manager of Dico's Fastfood Restaurant, said, "When we first reopened, our business was just 20 percent its normal volume. In the last few days it's been back to 50 to 60 percent."

With the return of order and stability in Lhasa, more than 200 seriously damaged shops will reopen soon.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei