Ex-Kuomintang chief tours historic street

Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan visited Beijing's Nanluoguxiang hutong on Thursday, two days after Communist Party of China chief Xi Jinping made a surprise visit to the area amid heavy smog.

Lien, who met Xi in Beijing on Feb 18, arrived at the popular tourist spot in the capital's downtown Dongcheng district - famous for its boutiques, restaurants and bars - at around 10 am Thursday with his wife, Lien Fangyu, and toured the 800-meter-long alley for about an hour, store owners and others said.

Unlike Xi's visit two days ago, Lien's tour took place after a cold front and light overnight rain cleared the capital's skies. Smog had lingered in the country's central and north regions since Feb 20.