The urban planning authority of Shanghai has approved a face-lift for more than 200 old villas along the western section of Julu Road.

The urban planning authority of Shanghai has approved a face-lift for more than 200 old villas along the western section of Julu Road, with the eventual purpose of building an elegant street of entertainment and European culture.

The jing'an District government, which is in charge of the renovation, has set up a task force to handle the project.

"We expect to see a complete culture-based entertainment street where people can enjoy the whole atmosphere," Wang Lin, a Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau official, said yesterday.

According to the plan, about 250 villas along the western part of Julu Road - some 250 meters from Changshu Road in the west and Shaanxi Road S. in the east - will be renovated. Some will be developed into coffee shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques, gift shops and expensive private clubs.

Currently, many of the villas are either owned by military units or occupied by residents. Most are weather-beaten for lack of renovation.

The government expects to realize the development through a market-oriented approach over the next few years.Architecture experts at Tongji University said most of the villas were British style and built during the 1930s.

(Shanghai Daily April 6, 2005)