Semarang to revitalize Chinatown

SEMARANG: The city administration has plans to extend the area of China town in the Central Java capital of Semarang next year.

China town, called the Pecinan area, would cover Gang Pinggir, Gang Lombok, Gang Warung and Gang Baru under the new plans.

"We will not create a new Pecinan, but return it to its original form. We want to prevent the area from becoming too exclusive," M. Farhan, a senior official with the Semarang development planning agency, said on Thursday.

He said the project, aimed at revitalizing certain areas of the city, would also effect Europescheburg (old city) and Javansche Nagarij (town square).

Farhan could not say when the project would start nor how much it would cost.

A team of economists, academics, cultural experts, activists and other local people has been set up to design the project, he added. --JP