Zhongshan Road under renovation By Wang Pengjun

Imperial Street of Southern Song Dynasty, Three National Museums & Xixi International Tourism Complex

Imperial Street of Southern Song Dynasty

Zhongshan Road is well known as a historical and cultural heritage in town reflecting ancient urban values as well as modern landscape. Known as the Imperial Street and the Heaven Street, Zhongshan Road was the north-south axis of the ancient Capital Lin'an City in Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279 AD).

The objectives of the treatment and renovation project of Zhongshan Road is to recall the city memory, rebuild the civil life and blend the eastern and western culture in this international tourism complex. This will be a meeting point for the seniors to look back the history, for the youngsters to taste the fashion, for the foreigners to experience China and for the Chinese to take a look at the world.

The comprehensive renovation project has nearly been completed at present and the Imperial Street of Southern Song Dynasty will open to the public at the end of September. The opening week from Sept. 30th to Oct. 5th is loaded with events under the theme of "Imperial Memories, Creative Fashions".

3 National Museums

Three national museums of Scissors and Swords, Fans and Umbrellas have been put into construction since last January in order to protect the cultural heritage of three local products, namely, Zhang Xiaoquan Scissors, Wang Xingji Fans and West Lake Silk Umbrellas. Now the three museums are ready for a grand opening with total 2,016 collections, respectively, 251 umbrellas, 779 fans and 986 knives, swords and scissors. The three museums will open for free from Oct. 1st.

These museums will not only display their collections but also display the historical background and humanity of each item with multi-media technology. Experienced folk artists will be invited to the museums to showcase their exquisite skills of making fans, silk umbrellas and scissors. The interactive facilities will enable visitors to experience in their practice.

Xixi International Tourism Complex

The Xixi International Tourism Complex, located in the southeastern corner of Xixi Wetland, is consisted of a wetland museum, a top grade shopping center, six international hotels and premium serviced apartments and public tourism service facilities.

In accordance to the progress of the project, Phase I of the Xixi International Tourism Complex will open partially on Oct. 1st.

The Xixi Wetland Museum, the first national wetland museum, is under intense construction at the same time. Limited access to the museum will be available for the public in October. Xixi Brook Hotel with 118 rooms has been open since Aug. 1st. Banya Tree Resort Hotel is estimated to have a soft opening in October. The construction of Sheraton Hotel is scheduled to complete and have its soft opening in 2010. （Translated by E.C. Hick)