Gulou Area Facing Demolition?

Disturbing news in the Chinese press has bar owners around Gulou (aka the Drum Tower) feeling nervous. Plans have been announced to “restore” the area around the tower to the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and build an underground “Beijing Time Cultural City,” comprising restaurants, parking spaces, and a museum about timekeeping technology.

The development is bordered by Jiugulou Dajie to the west, Zhangwang Hutong (about half way down Jiugulou Dajie) to the north, Caochang Hutong to the east, and Gulou itself to the south. In other words, the entire zone between the Drum and Bell towers and all adjoining hutongs.

The Qianmen redevelopment south of Tiananmen Square illustrates why businesses around Gulou have been unnerved by the news – the heart of Qianmen was demolished and rebuilt in an “ancient style,” with residents moved elsewhere and existing businesses forced out. Given the announcement back in November that Jiaodaokou authorities plan to restrict the number of bars and cafes on the nearby Nanluogu Xiang, it seems likely the entire area to the east and northeast of Houhai is set to receive a “facelift.”

Many of the shops along the eastern side of Di’anmenwai Dajie, the street running south from Gulou, also appear to have moved out, indicating the wrecking balls may soon be at work there as well.

A large swathe of hutongs north of Gulou and a short section at the southern end of Nanluogu Xiang came down last August to make way for new line 8 subway stations. Now it seems a broader “redevelopment” of the area is in the offing.

An article in the China Daily today details plans for underground developments in Dongcheng District, including, “a 5 km underground road… built to link Yonghegong, or Lama Temple, to Dongdan.” The article did not mention the Gulou project however.

Gulou is one of the last sections of the city retaining any trace of the atmosphere of “old Beijing,” and is home to several well known bars, including the Drum and Bell and the small music venue Jiangjinjiu. Other venues potentially affected include Ball House, Laotou, Cafe Sambal, Luce Cafe and Fenghuang Zhu Yunnan restaurant.

Some local bar owners have expressed fears they may have to vacate their premises as early as March, though they have not received any official notification at this point.