Customers enter and leave a century-old silk shop in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


Ma Guoqi (R), owner of the time-honored Yueshengzhai shop, greets customers in front of his shop selling traditional Chinese food on Langfang Lane Two in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


Two women carry bowls of snacks before eating at a time-honored shop selling traditional Chinese food on Langfang Lane Two in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


A man takes photos of old buildings on Langfang Lane Two in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


People choose clothes in a small shop in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


Customers enter and leave a century-old silk shop in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


A man displays a traditional Chinese painting for sale at his shop on Langfang Lane Two in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.


People wait in lines to eat traditional Chinese snacks at shops on Langfang Lane Two in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area, one of the last remnants of old Beijing, March 7, 2006. With the demolition of shabby houses in the Qianmen area, people show growing interest in recalling their memories of the centuries-old city by visiting the area to experience civic life.

Source: Xinhua