Restaurant tells tale of China's green efforts

ALGIERS — Nestled 60 kilometers south of Algeria's capital Algiers, the renowned Monkey Creek restaurant in Chiffa Gorge boasts a century-long history. A photo wall inside features famous personalities, including Napoleon III, Prince Philip and former Algerian leaders who visited the site. However, the restaurant's centerpiece is a Chinese sign that reads "Huan Ying Guang Lin", or "welcome" in Chinese.

Owner Embarek Nadjem said the restaurant, which was established in 1850, derives its name from the adjacent creek and Barbary macaques that inhabit the area. Originally a post house for Atlas Mountains travelers, it evolved into a tourist hot spot after Algeria's independence in 1962. Nadjem said around 5,000 visitors frequent the establishment daily during weekends and summer vacations.

But more than a decade ago, the restaurant faced possible demolition due to the construction of the North-South Highway meant to replace the original national highway, which was unable to meet the growing demand for transport. The initial design proposed by a Spanish team involved demolishing the restaurant, destroying a large amount of vegetation, and affecting the habitat of Barbary macaques, which were declared endangered in 2008 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.