An old street is the cultural continuity of a city, and the Liulichang Cultural Street is one of the places in Beijing that has both the elegance of the literati and the life of the city.

Liulichang Cultural Street

Crossing Yangmei Zhuxie Street and passing through Yichi Street, you will arrive at the famous Liulichang Cultural Street in Beijing.

During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, a government kiln was opened here to burn the glazed tiles for building the imperial palace, so it was called “Liulichang”.

Today’s Liulichang Culture Street is no longer the narrow street that Li Wenzao wrote about during the Qianlong era, nor is it an old street formed by private stores in the 1950s.

After renovation the storefront store hall green brick and gray tiles, brick carving and painting antique, more with a strong ancient market color.

The whole street is plain and elegant, where there are neither towering skyscrapers nor lighting dancing halls and bars.

The Liulichang Cultural Street, with its unique style, has witnessed the rise and fall of academics and culture since the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Walking along this street, it is as if you are listening to an old man telling the fantastic history that happened here.

It has formed a traditional Chinese cultural accumulation area represented by calligraphy and painting art, antiques and Four Treasures of the Study, and has become a famous mecca for Chinese culture and art, giving birth to time-honored brands which are famous both in China and abroad.

The century-old stores on the street have their characteristics, Rongbaozhai’spaper, Daiyuexuan’s Chinese brushes, Yidege’s ink and clay, Laixiangge’sancient books and Zuijinzhai’s porcelain, etc.

In addition, there are many intangible cultural heritage items in Liulichang, including paper-cutting, shadow puppets, seals, tiffany lamps and palace lamps, etc. Everything witness the history of China.

But besides the elegance of the literati, there are many small courtyards. Walking into one of them at random, you can slow yourself down and enjoy life.

Lulichang is a street where folk culture is written in every brick and tile. Birdcages are hanging under the eaves, flower pots are placed in front of the door, people are chatting...

Strolling around this hutong is what the old Beijing looks like.

Translated by: ZOU Mengzhao

Edited by: WANG Jingyan