Local shoppers may find something very old during the coming New Year days, when they visit Wangfujing Street, the largest shopping area in China's capital.

A museum on ancient people living in the area 25,000 years ago has been ready for inauguration on December 28, while an exhibition on photos taken by a French banker in the old Beijing in 1860 will be opened three days earlier.

The relics, numbered over 2,000, about the old residents in Wangfujing were discovered when the Oriental Plaza, a large commercial compound, was under construction.

The photos are a good record of the commercial area 140 years ago, with its shops, businessmen, transport tools and recreations.Of them, 53 are 3-D black and white pictures. The viewers have to enjoy them with special glasses.

( Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2001)