Qianmen Street, a commercial thoroughfare in Dongcheng District, runs along Beijing's central axis from Qianmen Gate in the north to Tianqiao Bridge in the south, stretching about 845 meters. Its history spans more than 570 years: before 1550, it served as the imperial road emperors used to reach the Altar of Mountains and Rivers, and after that date it became the Outer City's main street, known as Zhengyangmen Street during the Ming and Qing dynasties before taking its current name in 1965. The street underwent a comprehensive redevelopment in the 2000s to recapture the atmosphere of the late imperial era and early 20th-century Beijing, reopening as a pedestrian street on August 7, 2008, just days before the Olympics began. Today, visitors enjoy strolling among traditional shopfronts and long-established heritage brands, riding the historic tram that runs down the street, and browsing craft and souvenir shops — making it an ideal place to experience old Beijing's flavor in a modern setting.