Chang'an Avenue finishing touch planned and to be completed on nation's 60th birthdayConstruction projects along the Chang'an Avenue, Beijing, are to be completed before the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the PRC. According to the preliminary scheme filed to the government department concerned and projects have already been decided for nine out of the ten vacant construction sites as planned.The Chang'an Avenue, 7 kilometers long stretching from Fuxingmen to Jianguomen, is the axial line running from the east and to the west of Beijing city and is viewed as one of the symbols of the capital city and the nation. Over 50 magnificent buildings stand along the two sides, covering an area of about 4m square meters. The construction of the northern side of the avenue has by and large been completed while the southern part has 10 pieces of land left vacant. The vacancy to be filled in includes the sites beside the Electronic Education Center in Fuxingmen, opposite the Palace of Nationality and Culture, facing Zhongnanhai, and near Liubukou and Taijichang. The buildings to be put up there will be the key finishing touches on the picturesque Chang'an Avenue, the "First Avenue in China" so as to make it even more beautiful and vivacious. Nine projects have been decided, most of which are either office buildings for governments and business agencies or for cultural purposes, including the second phase of the Electronic Education Center, Beijing Art Gallery near Liubukou, expansion of the National Museum, and the new office building for Ministry of Public Security. As learned the Beijing municipal government has entrusted the city planning association to mobilize sources from various departments to ensure the good planning of the final touches of the Avenue. Researches focusing on the planned buildings have been carefully conducted with regard to the functions, art of architecture, human behaviors, traffic, greening, and public usability. The submitted scheme suggests that all the construction projects be completed before the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. It is also proposed that the new projects to be erected have a simple profile to match the straightening and well-proportioned perspective of the Avenue and the straight and flat horizon as well. Each building should tone in with its surroundings and be in a solemn and grand style. Clear and bright colors, especially creamy color and other colors in harmony, are preferable for these structures. (An article form Beijing Daily and Translated by PD Online staff member Lijia) |
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