The Yongkang Lu clean-up has officially begun

While some venues have already bitten the dust, work on the ‘comprehensive treatment’ on Yongkang Lu officially began on Monday 8 August.

Last Monday (August 1) already saw authorities banning outdoor seating on Yongkang Lu, in what is sure to be the first step of many to try and curb the crowds on the formerly busy street. News came last month of plans to start closing down bars and restaurants in the area, with authorities saying that the clean-up is due to be finished by November.

According to local news sources, the renovation will be three-fold: ridding the street of illegal structures to improve fire safety and livability, banning unlicensed operations to improve food hygiene, and putting an end to drinking on the streets. Of the 30 drinking establishments on the eastern section of Yongkang Lu, only 10 have alcohol licenses according to Sina, and even those are set to expire by the end of next year.

'They’re not closing down [the bars], it's just that the licenses need changing,' a staff member at Dean's Bottle Shop told Time Out. 'We’re fine over here, if you’ve got a license then there’s no problem.'

The 26th of this month seems to be the deadline for the initial phase of the clean-up according to those working in the area that will see the hammer go down on businesses without licenses - although rumour has it that some of them will continue to operate as restaurants rather than out-and-out drinking establishments.

Local authorities will attempt to crack down on the opening times, noise levels and pollution of the remaining bars. The authorities seem keen to keep the street open for businesses, although some like the staff member at Dean's said they foresee Yongkang Lu turning into 'a place without people'.

'It’s a big shame, but if you "manage" the residents here you can still operate as usual, it’s a kind of culture,' said the employee. 'If they can be bothered to manage Yongkang Lu why not Nanjing Dong Lu?'

But, as a member of staff at Revolucion pointed out: ‘It’s difficult to say [what’s going to happen], it’s changed so much. Only a few years ago it was a vegetable market here, who would’ve thought that it would become a bar street?’