The entire district of Qianmen, formerly a thriving commercial hub to the south of Tiananmen Square, has been recast as a themed heritage shopping zone, pumped-up steroidal shopfronts masking the mostly empty units behind.
Filled with a tight network of caruggi, or narrow (often cobblestoned) streets, Genoa's medieval core offers palazzi showcasing a range of architectural styles, heritage shops, restaurants and cafes.
Recognised by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture as an important showcase for Chinese heritage, the shop's most popular crafts include laohu (colourful stuffed tigers) Bulaohu, embroidered children's shoes, and Qing dynasty "hairy monkeys".
The key campaign themes of heritage, sport, shopping, music, entrepreneurship, innovation and countryside are reflected in the posters produced to publicise the project.
In a nod to the area's heritage, this coffee shop also serves beer, including Beck's and other German brands ($4.50 a bottle).
There are many episodes that are not known about in our so-called generous race relations history.' Martin Davidson, executive producer of the programmes, said: 'We are not bringing out a heritage site gift shop.
This paper describes an example of public agencies engagement in reusing heritage buildings for shopping activities in Bandung.
"This can largely be attributed to Germany's catalogue shopping heritage," he says.
What matters more than heritage, it seems, is shopping and new jobs in new shops.
A new shop, a heritage plaque, a familiar face, your cycle commute can be more than just a way to get from a-to-b.
