| June 6th, 2008
Ducking around the construction to the west, some streets were untouched. Zhubaoshi 珠宝市 (Zhūbǎoshì) is a shopping street to the west of Qianmen Dajie. It was empty at this early hour, but also, most of the store owners were taking a vacation. There weren't many customers due to the construction.
We met a woman as we walked down this lane who was out in front of her shop. She had been offered money to relocate, but refused. Her street was not to be renewed, the government just wanted to empty as many stores and residences as possible. They did not force the issue. She intends to stay as long as possible. Her family has owned and managed the shop for at least four generations. She has spent her entire life in the same house. Her husband had joined her there. She had raised her children in the neighborhood, and all of the people she knew lived within walking distance.
Below, Zhubaoshi 珠宝市 (Zhūbǎoshì) in 2004.
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