Qianmen Street; in the former 鈥極uter City' of Beijing leads south from the Qianmen or Front Gate of Beijing's Inner City. It was the avenue along which imperial processions made their way slowly from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven.In the lead-up to 2008 Beijing Olympics the street underwent a major facelift and pedestrianisation. At the north end (this image) a grand pailou arch was restored. Beyond is the Ming Dynasty Jianlou (Arrow) Tower protecting the 鈥楩ront Gate' - the tower was extensively reconstructed in 1917.