The heart of an 800-year-old town in Shanghai Pudong is getting a facelift to become a scenic attraction for visitors of the 2010 World Expo, city officials said yesterday.

Officials plan renovations within a 5-square kilometer section of Gaoqiao Town, located in north Pudong. The work is intended to highlight historic homes, traditional arts, food and entertainment venues in the town's center.

So far, the township and Pudong governments have appropriated more than 4 million yuan (US$499,625) for the renewal project - which includes the construction of a pedestrian street lined with ancient houses.

"Hopefully, historic houses in Gaoqiao will become an interesting scenic spot for visitors to the 2010 World Expo," said Tan Yufeng, head of the ground relics department of the Shanghai Cultural Relics Management Commission.

There are some 20 heritage houses in Gaoqiao - about half of the total historic buildings in Pudong, officials said.

Most of the historic buildings in Pudong were built during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the early years of the Republic of China (1912-1949).

One notable site is "Yangxiantang," a three-story courtyard built in the early 1930s that combines Chinese and Western architectural features.

Most of the other residential buildings have carved windows, corridor eaves, balcony railings and various wood carvings with Chinese traditional flower and animal patterns.

Many of the renovated homes will become souvenir shops, tea houses and restaurants. Some buildings are former residences to educators, revolutionaries, writers and government officials.

(Shanghai Daily June 20, 2006)