Taipingguan to reopen soon
(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2005-03-23 08:52

Taipingguan, the century-old restaurant, which was closed in January, will reopen Saturday, keeping its features and style.

The restaurant, which opened in 1885 in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and is known for hosting former Premier Zhou Enlai’s wedding ceremony in 1925, was closed over a rent dispute with the property owner.

The owner had retained more than 2,200 square meters, more than three-quarters of the total restaurant area, before the restaurant closed in January. After reopening, the restaurant area will be around 500 to 700 square meters.

In 2000, the Guangzhou government named the Taipingguan one of the city's oldest restaurants. The closure of the restaurant had caused much concern for Guangzhou residents.

An city tourism bureau official said the old brand restaurant was protected under Chinese law. In 2002, the Dongjiang Seafood Group, the operator of the restaurant, had signed a 10-year lease with the property owner, Guangzhou Food and Eatery Enterprises Group.

During the past century, the restaurant served more than 800 Western-style dishes. Some people who had lived in Guangzhou for decades still remember trying the original menu for the Premier couple.

A spokesperson for the Dongjiang Group said the new Taipingguan would be a big surprise for Guangzhou residents when it reopened. Although the restaurant was smaller, it would be better. It will not only maintain its own character, but also have new dishes.