Houhai Next to Get the Nanluogu Xiang Treatment?

As the bandages come off Nanluogu Xiang's recent face lift, authorities may have already set their sights on yet another tourist hot spot due for an upgrade: the shores of Shichahai/Houhai.

Beijing Times reports that the Xicheng District Government will roll out new regulations for the area designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion along the perpetually crowded shoreline. 

Proposed solutions for the area's traffic woes include additional parking lots (of course), but also the expansion of pedestrian-only zones, a reduction in the number of trishaws cruising the shoreline, and a crackdown on taxis and "black cabs" operating in the area.

The development of pedestrian walking routes around the lake comes as a particularly welcome development. In recent years the streets around Houhai have become synonymous with weekend and holiday gridlock.

In addition, fresh signs and historical markers will replace outdated and generally undecipherable existing signage. New tourist information facilities are also planned to help the tourists who will no doubt remain just as mystified by the new signs as they were by the old ones.

Security will also get a boost, with additional personnel deployed to vigorously reinforce previously banned activities such as begging, swimming, and fishing. This vigorous reinforcement is expected to last about two weeks before the new personnel realizes they haven't any real power and nobody will listen to them anyway.

Trishaw operators will face a reduction in numbers from 1,000 to 300 licensed drivers because everybody knows that it's the old guys sharing their knowledge of the city rather than the endless Friday night procession of Black Audis and Mini Cooper Mistress-mobiles which are the real traffic menace around Houhai.

As has been the case in other neighborhoods of late, shady businesses -- or those who are behind on their official donations -- should be getting their affairs back in order. Local authorities are looking to close unlicensed bars and restaurants, as well as those businesses believed to gouge their customers through poorly explained extortionate pricing schemes. No doubt there will be some flexibility in the latter requirement as strict enforcement would mean the closure of almost every establishment on the strip.

The blessed renovation is scheduled to be completed by next May. Huzzah.

Photo: netsolhost.com