A photo taken on April 23, 2008 shows a trolley car parking on the Qianmen Street, which is now under a renovation project. [Photo: Xinhua]
Two old-fashioned trolley cars drove down Beijing's Qianmen Street on Wednesday to add flavor to the renovated tourist attraction.
The trolley cars are painted according to the old style, and are expected to take passengers around the 800-meter-long street starting in May, when the redevelopment job is completed, the Beijing News reports.
The trolley cars were nicknamed "dangdang cars" by Old Beijingers, as the driver would sound a bell at the head of the car to alert pedestrians. The cars first appeared in the city in 1914, and stopped operating during the 1960's.
Qianmen Street has a history of more than 600 years. After the renovation is done, the street will be restored to its architectural style of the 1920's and '30s.
Dozens of famous traditional brands such as Quan Ju De Roast Duck restaurant, Yue Sheng Zhai Muslim foods and Du Yi Chu snack bar, will have outlets on Qianmen Street.