Liulichang

The world-famous Liulichang Cultural Street, located outside of the Hepingmen in Xuanwu District, is some 800 meters long, stretching from the Yanshou Street in the east to the Nanbeiliu Lane in the west. A governmental kiln to glazed tiles was established here in the Yuan Dynasty. Later during the Ming Dynasty, the kiln was expanded in size and became one of the five largest plants under the Ministry of Industry, hence the name Liulichang (Glazed Tile Plant)used from then on. During the early Qing Dynasty, the Manchu and the Han people lived separately in Beijing. Residences of officials from the Han ethnic group, as well as many provincial guildhalls, were built nearby Liulichang. Candidates for the imperial examination and officials from other places often gathered here, making Liulichang "a place for literati in the capital." Then business on books, four treasures of the study, antiques, aintings, and calligraphic works flourished.

In the early 1 980s, Beijing renovated the street After renovation, the east and west Liulichang streets are lined by shops with an architectural style of the late Qing Dynasty. There are many time-honored stores, such as the Rongbaozhai Studio, the Huaiyin Shanfang (Villa under Pagoda Tree Shade)Store, the Jiguge Store, and the Ancient Book Shop.

In recent years, the municipal government of Beijing resumed the temple fair, which was held from the first to fifteenth day of every first lunar month in the past. Liulichang gets prosperous and flourishing again every Spring Festival.