Dongmen Pedestrian Street, in Luohu District, is Shenzhen's oldest commercial district, dating back to the mid-Ming Dynasty when it was known as the "Shenzhen Ancient Market," before becoming the city's first official commercial center after Shenzhen was designated a Special Economic Zone in 1980. The street was closed to vehicle traffic and fully pedestrianized in 1999. The open-air area covers 130,000 square meters, but actually holds up to 400,000 square meters of retail floor space thanks to multi-level stores, hosting over 3,000 shops and restaurants — earning it the nickname "Commercial United Nations." The street's character blends traditional "qilou" arcade architecture typical of southern China with modern storefronts, making it a favorite spot for shopping and photography.