Past & present in dialogue

East meets West

One of the most distinctive stores in the Longfu Temple area, Tongrentang carries a curious blend of coffee, baked bread and faint herbal notes.

"You can smell the medicine, but it's mixed with coffee and pastries. It's East meeting West," says Dai, who is also a cultural enthusiast.

The design incorporates architectural elements inspired by traditional Chinese temples — the ornate zaojing pattern of Longfu Temple and the mortise-and-tenon joints used in classical wooden structures.

"Our brand and Longfu Temple both have hundreds of years of history. We wanted a deep cultural connection," Dai explains the decision to set up shop at the site.

Besides running the store's business, it has become routine for her to explain the history and culture of Longfu Temple to her customers.

The store's layout encourages visitors to explore bakery displays featuring herbal-infused pastries, a coffee bar serving drinks like monk fruit Americano and goji berry latte, and, deeper inside, a wellness area selling traditional medicinal herbs and handcrafted products.

Since opening eight months ago, the store has hosted dozens of cultural workshops — from incense bead-making to traditional calligraphy and the Chinese wellness exercise baduanjin.

Older residents come out of nostalgia for the old Longfu Temple markets, while younger customers arrive out of curiosity, Dai observes.

The mix of generations has become part of the neighborhood's charm, she adds.

The imperial monuments along the Central Axis remain stoic. Yet, on either side, spaces like Beijing Fun and Longfu Temple are quietly extending their conversation with the past.

Together, they tell a story of how Beijing continues to evolve, protecting its history while keeping the ancient capital vibrantly alive.

"China's ancient culture is inexhaustible. You can dig into it endlessly — and still find something new," Dai says.