Work begins to clean up Beijing's 'dirty streets'

The municipal government has begun a long-term project to remove illegal constructions and restore the city's traditional appearance, as Cui Jia reports.

"Dirty street" in Sanlitun was once famous for cheap food and drinks. Tian Liming, who has lived in the area for more than 50 years, knows all too well how the bar-and-restaurant-strewn thoroughfare lived up to its nickname.

The Sanlitun South No 42 apartment building stands at one end of the 200-meter-long Tonglihou street - Dirty street's official name - which connects the two parts of the Taikoo Li shopping complex. "Small businesses grew out of these apartments like aggressive tumors," the 60-year-old said.