More than buildings

Beijing will strive to become a world-class cultural center by the year 2020.

As the capital, the city has never lacked the capacity to erect symbolic structures, but buildings alone do not make a cultural center.

Yet what is particularly noteworthy about the proposal is the construction projects involved, such as the restoration of the ancient wall towers at the southeastern and southwestern corners of the old outer city wall. Dongcheng district government will also spend 800 million yuan ($126 million), starting next year, on either reconstructing some lost structures or renovating some streets to make them look old. The city will also construct new clusters of theatres or museums.