------Program code: DO-090212-02439 (what's this?)
Source: CCTV.com
02-12-2009 09:37
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To achieve its new image, Qianmen is now undergoing its biggest renovation in its 600-year history. By 2008, it will be a fully functional and tasteful pedestrian area combining traditional and modern styles.
Besides its many attributes, the plan is underlined by one key feature – modernization.
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"Sir, please have a look. How beautiful the old houses are. They used to be department stores and restaurants, but they’re all different now. Xiangji, which I mentioned just now, used to stand here, to our east, but it’s been demolished to make way for the pavement on Dongce Road. It was built to ease the traffic flow, but all the culture and history has gone. The change will bring rich people into the area as well as pollution. If I had the power, I wouldn’t allow taxis and private cars to run in Beijing. I’d prefer carts, bikes and even tricycles, all of which use natural energy."
Feng Guangju and his wife live in a hutong not far from Langfang’ertiao. They’ve spent most of their lives here. But now they’re being obliged to move to make way for the renovation.
10 years ago, when his wife was to return home from hospital after recovering from illness Mr Feng dumped some old stuff and prepared
their home to welcome her back. But to his surprise, she was very angry.
The Fengs have been living here for 60 years, ever since they married. Her house has been demolished as part of the renovation, but she doesn’t want to moveto an apartment or live with her children. They’ve borrowed their neighbour’s house for the time being, but this house, too, is to be pulled down soon. Mr Feng has rented a home, and plans to move there soon, but his wife is still reluctant to leave.
Recently, Feng Guangju has had little time to think about moving. Working with the Beijing Traditional Snacks Protection and Development Association, he has helped over a dozen old brands re-launch their business in Houhai. They’ve opened a new business, called the Jiumen Food Court. More than half their customers are tourists. They were very busy during the week-long National Day holiday.
Feng’s Baodu Restaurant moved to the other side of the street after its old site on Langfang’ertiao was demolished. The new site remains temporarily outside the renovation area, and is managed by his son.
"It’s been years. I used to eat it when I was young. It’s a long time since I saw you last. Do you have fish and fried liver? No, but Tianxingju does. But I don’t know where they’ve moved to. I don’t know, either. You see, in the renovation a lot of stores have been pulled down, but we don’t know where they’ve moved to. They’ve just quietly moved away, without leaving any notice of their new addresses. They could have posted a notice on the Internet. I’ve searched, but haven’t found anything. We’re living in the information age. They may have closed."
"I’ve lost weight. Yes, because I’ve been working too hard. It’s better than putting on weight. Take some rest when you can. I go to Houhai every day by bike. I’ll carry on doing it as long as I’m alive."
