By the end of next year, the 137 bars around Beijing's Houhai will have changed their faces to coordinate with the overall style of the Shichahai area, Xinhuanet reported.

Wang Fujun, the vice director of the Xicheng Development and Reform Commission, says that the 137 bars will change to reflect the style of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, the renovation work will help reinforce the decrepit houses in the area.

The Shichahai area includes the residences of many famous persons, Beijing's traditional hutong alleyways and siheyuans or courtyards, as well as mansions of former royals in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Seventy percent of the renovation fees will be paid by the government.

One of the bars on Shichahai bar street.