Qianmen Street in Beijing is ablaze with lights at night and full of tourists. [Photo/Xinhua]

Traditional Chinese business blocks are those developed in urban residential areas which are sustained mainly by local residents. Historical sites and architectural relics often dot the neighborhood, which give tourists an important window into local customs and traditions, as well as the historical features.

In the 1980s and 90s, China started rapid urban renewal on a large scale. Combined with modern business modes, traditional Chinese business blocks have a new look. During the transformation many blocks preserved historical features, and on the commercial end, a pattern emerged of one distinct feature per shop. Leisure and entertainment facilities are constructed and dynamic tourist activities are developed. All these have brought vitality into the traditional business blocks and created a new promotional image of the city.