Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Aug 13

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.

Construction Continues on Transportation Hub in Tongzhou: Beijing is pushing hard on development in Tongzhou District, in an attempt to make the area a second city center – dubbed the “sub-center”. The transportation hub in question is a massive underground transportation complex spanning three floors that’s expected to link cross-regional and intercity railways as well as several subway lines.

Gentle Monster Opens Flagship Store in Sanlitun Taikooli: The exterior of Taikooli Shopping Center is looking a little more lively thanks to the opening of clothing brand Gentle Monster’s largest flagship store in China to date on the southeast side of the complex. The high end South Korean sunglasses brand relocated from Taikooli North to its new location, the space formerly occupied by Uniqlo.

Beijing E-Grocer Comes Under Scrutiny from Regulators: The Beijing Consumer Association said on Aug 9 that it was investigating popular online grocery store Missfresh after reports of cashflow problems surfaced on social media, reports CGTN. The company has suspended salaries and work for most of its staff since July, the report continues, with dozens of employees having sued the company over unpaid salaries.

Central Axis Aims to Compete for World Cultural Heritage Status: The National Cultural Heritage Administration said Chinese authorities plan to recommend Beijing’s Central Axis as China’s 2024 World Cultural Heritage application project, reports Xinhua News. The 7.8 kilometer Axis runs in a north-south line across Beijing from Yongdingmen in the south to the Drum and Bell Tower in the north, and was originally used as a procession lane for the emperor on important occasions. Beijing considers achieving heritage status for the Axis as a “starting point to promote overall protection of the old city.”

Great Wall Hero 2022 Ceremony Held Along Liangma River: A special Great Wall Hero promotional event was held at the Yansha Wharf on the banks of the Liangma River to highlight a number of new “nightlife routes” around Beijing aimed at stimulating the tourism economy, according to the city’s Culture and Tourism Bureau. The event was attended by a number of foreign experts who have resided in the capital for some time, who were able to experience these new “routes” – essentially paths designed to highlight key cultural and shopping areas around the city – firsthand.

READ: Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Aug 6

Images: Xinhua News, Dianping, Beijing Culture and Tourism Bureau