Gulou West Street, home to numerous cultural relics and historic sites, has launched a citywide parking ban effective today. In the future, the chaotic parking situation along the 1.7-kilometer stretch of Gulou West Street will be completely eliminated. At present, Shichahai Subdistrict has coordinated three parking facilities—the Wannian Hutong Parking Lot, the North Central Axis Museum Parking Lot, and the Desheng Duijing Parking Lot—providing a total of 215 spaces for local residents; the first batch of 111 vehicles has already obtained permits and moved in.

The first parking violation ticket was issued today.

Gulou West Street is located in the Shichahai Historical and Cultural Protection Zone of Xicheng District. Once, the 1.7-kilometer stretch was lined with parked cars on both sides—more than 400 vehicles in total. Resident Ms. Liang said, “In the past, it was impossible to walk on the sidewalk; we had to step down onto the roadway, which was extremely dangerous—people had to dodge the cars as they passed.”

To address this situation, starting September 1, the Fujing Street Command Center of Xicheng District and the Shichahai Subdistrict Office will impose a complete ban on parking motor vehicles along both sides of the road and on the sidewalks east of Ganlu Hutong and Xinkai Hutong on Guxi Avenue. Effective today, a similar ban will be enforced on both sides of the road and on the sidewalks west of Ganlu Hutong and Xinkai Hutong on Gulou West Avenue. Vehicles parked in violation of these regulations will be dealt with by the traffic management authorities in accordance with the law.

This morning, reporters observed that multiple construction barriers had been erected along both sides of Gulou West Street, and a tow truck was hauling away a minivan illegally parked on the roadway—making it the first motor vehicle to be ticketed since the street was placed under a comprehensive no-parking ban.

Where are residents parking their cars after the no-parking rule was enforced?

According to reports, there are a total of 338 vehicles—belonging to residents whose street‑side addresses on Gulou West Street are eligible for parking, as well as vehicles that genuinely require long‑term parking on the street. So far, 111 of these vehicles have been arranged to park at discounted rates in three nearby parking lots, while the remaining over one hundred vehicles with parking needs will be gradually relocated to designated parking facilities.

“The parking lot will charge a monthly fee of 600 yuan, and the parking resources currently being coordinated are sufficient to meet the parking needs of residents in the vicinity of Guxi Street,” said Bi Jundong, Director of the Shichahai Subdistrict Office.

What will Gulou West Street look like in the future?

Gulou West Street is located within the Shichahai Historical and Cultural Protection Zone in Xicheng District, stretching from Denei Avenue in the west to Di’anmenwai Avenue in the east. Along both sides of the street stand numerous cultural relics and historic sites, including the Guan Yu Temple and the former residence of Soong Ching-ling.

So how will Gulou West Street evolve now that its aesthetic appeal has been enhanced? According to Bi Jundong, in June 2017, Xicheng District unveiled the “Gulou West Street Renovation and Revitalization Plan,” aiming to transform the area into a high‑quality cultural and leisure district over a two- to three-year period. By the end of this year, after three years of renovation, Gulou West Street will have completed its initial phase of public unveiling.

Going forward, the entire length of Guxi Street will continue to undergo demolition and rectification of illegal structures, façade upgrades, pedestrian walkway renovations, relocation of small and medium-sized electrical cabinets, relocation of low-voltage distribution boxes, integrated utility pole consolidation, enhancement of ancillary facilities, and improvements to landscaping and cultural amenities.