If you have a favor with traditional Chinese productions, Qianmen Street may be the first stop on your shopping tour in Beijing. Located at south of Tiananmen Square, the Qianmen Business Street has been prosperous for more than 500 years and is home to most of Beijing's time-honored brands.

For elder Beijing residents, there are places clearly known for certain goods. For cloth, one would go to Ruifuxiang Shop; for hats, to Majuyuan Shop; for shoes, to Neilansheng Shop; for tea, to Zhangyiyuan Store; and for watches, to Hengdeli Shop. All of these shops are in Dashilan (or Dazhalan), a well-known business street with a long history in the Qianmen area.

The lately reconstructed Qianmen shows the style of old Beijing as well as the commercial atmosphere of Qing Dynasty better than before.

The Qianmen Street area has been a commercial center of Beijing for more than 500 years; today, it boasts quaint shops, stalls, and restaurants. Visit charming old shops such as Tongrentang Pharmacy, Neiliansheng Shoe Shop, Ruifuxiang Silk and Cotton Fabrics Shop, Quanyechang, Zhang Yiyuan Tea Store, and Majuyuan Hat Store. Since 2006, the area has been under extensive redevelopment, and is expected to re-open in 2008 before the Olympic Games. Qianmen was once a prosperous commercial street dating back to the Yuan Dynasty and saw its peak in the 1920's. To revive this historical feeling, the area now boasts traditional buildings housing classic Chinese brands as well as modern additions including Starbucks and an H&M clothing store. 'Time honored brand' describes the majority of the Qianmen stores as they have a long history in Beijing, most notable is the Quanjude Duck Restaurant, famous among locals and travelers alike. The China Guide includes a Peking duck dinner in its itineraries for travelers eager to try this famous delicacy.

Recent additions are adding a fresh element to this historic street, and that includes the Capital M restaurant. This new eatery offers modern European food while guests take in views of the historic surroundings on the rooftop patio. "We're delighted that Qianmen Jie has reopened -- the street is buzzing! And we are doubly delighted that Capital M is open as well -- we're thrilled to be part of this historic Beijing scene on Qianmen Jie," says Michelle Garnaut, owner and founder of the Capital M Restaurant Group.

A highlight of Qianmen Jie is its pedestrian-only status, the second in Beijing, which makes strolling through the shops much more relaxed and enjoyable. The only transportation on the street is a tram line operating two restored tram cars that were once operational in the area many decades ago. A short ten-minute ride will take you between the north and south ends

Address: Qianmen Street, Chongwen District, Beijing

How to get there: Subway Line No. 2: get off at Qianmen Station

Bus No. 5, 17, 22, 48, 66, 82, 120, 301, 646, 826: get off at Qianmen Station