Illegal buildings demolished in Beijing's Sanlitun bar street

A popular bar street in Beijing's Sanlitun area has undergone a face-lift after the demolition of illegal constructions in the neighborhood.

Tonglihou Street, located in the well-known Taikoo Li shopping mall, is home to a variety of nail salons, foot massage parlors, bars and restaurants.

A staff member with the Sunlitun Street management office, which oversees construction in the area, said the demolition began on Monday morning. He did not want to be identified because he is not authoritized to talk to the media.

An urban patrol officer, better known as chengguan, at the scene said the demolition was expected to finish on Monday.

The move comes amid a string of similar operations across Beijing, which the city government said is aimed at removing safety risks, as many homeowners have knocked down walls to rent space to shopkeepers.

On April 17, the same management office demolished illegal constructions on the ground floor of Taipingzhuang Nanli residential building.

The ground floors of apartment blocks in Sanlitun are often rented out to stores, bars and restaurants, as the area is a popular destination for tourists, expats and locals.

Illegal structural work, such as removing interior walls, creating rooftop areas or extending buildings, is common in the area, according to the authorities.