A buyer checks out some pooches in Liyuan Dog Market in August. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Pressure release plan

The redevelopment of the dog market to make way for the theme park is just part of Beijing's plan to redevelop Tongzhou district, which is slated to become a subsidiary administrative center of Beijing with the relocation of noncore administrative functions from the city center.

In addition to the dog market, the clothes wholesale market near Beijing Zoo and some municipality-affiliated colleges are to be demolished to make way for the new administrative buildings.

Lian Yuming, president of the Beijing International City Development Research Institute, explained that the redevelopment of the area would help reduce the pressures on the city center.

"Beijing has to remove some functions from the center to realize better development," he said.

The Beijing municipal government offices and affiliated institutions are to be shifted gradually to Tongzhou to make the city's central area less crowded and Tongzhou will become a subsidiary administrative center for the capital and promote the regional integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

It's a challenging task since the project will involve both the government, market and the citizens.

"During the process, we need to be patient. However, it can't wait," Lian said.