Dashilan Commercial Street

Dashilan is one of the oldest and most famous commercial streets in Beijing. It is three hundred meters long east from the Western Street of Qianmen and west to the Meishi Street in the west. Row upon row of store and buildings line the narrow streets, bustling with noise and excitement. There are many famous century-old shops on the street such as Tongrentang.

The commercial area outside Qianmen was formed in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when it was stipulated that people from other places must not stay in the inner city (the Forbidden City) and the city gate of Beijing must be closed in the evening for the safety of the Forbidden City. People from other places had to live outside Qianmen. Thus, Qianmen Commercial Area was formed.

Thanks to its convenient location, the area has always been a place where there are many people from other places as well as large and small hotels and restaurants.

Liulichang Culture Street

Liulichang Culture Street is located outside Hepingmen Gate of Beijing. The total length of the street is 750 meter.

Liulichang was established in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). There used to be a colored glaze kiln and factory there; therefore, it is called Liulichang (colored glaze factory). In the Ming and Qing dynasties, most of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations at the provincial level who went to Beijing to participate in the imperial examinations gathered here, so there are many book and stationery shops that created a strong cultural atmosphere and became a book and antique market.