Qianmen is also called Zhengyang Gate and consists of Embrasured Watchtower and Gate Tower. Embrasured Watchtower and Gate Tower were originally connected by Wengcheng Wall, but as a result of the maintainance of road, they were separated. Nowadays, most people call the area around DazhalanQianmen. Strictly speaking, Qianmen is a name of an area, including Zhengyang Gate, Zhubaoshi, Dazhalan and etc.
As part of Qianmen,Qianmen Streetwas and is one of Beijing’s popular business streets. Located in the axis of Beijing, Qianmen Street goes from Zhengyangmen Embrasured Watchtower in the north and stretches to Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Road in the south, which connects with Tianqiao South Street. Before the outer city was built in the 29th year of Jiajing (AD 1550) during the Ming Dynasty, Qianmen Street used to be the Royal Road for emperors to go towardsthe Temple of Heavenand Altar to the God of Agriculture. When the construction work of the outer city was completed, it became the main north-south artery in the outer city, called Qianmen Street by the people. This street was officially called Zhengyangmen Street during the Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, and was renamed as Qianmen Street in 1965. It is 1660 meters long and 20 meters wide (for carriageways).
With the urban development and building projects during the Ming and Qing dynasties, many bazaars and guild halls converged in Qianmen Street, which gradually made it evolve into a major business district focusing on shopping and entertainment. At the same time, Quanjude Peking Roast Duck-Since 1864, Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant,RuifuxiangSilk-Since 1862,TongrentangChinese Medicine-Since 1669 and other brand shops also openedoutletshere, and a century-old cultural circle has emerged as a result. In comparison withWangfujingPedestrian Street, Qianmen Pedestrian Street gives more prominence to the original flavor of Beijing. Qianmen Pedestrian Street consists of many functional areas such as Beijing's Culture, Domestic and Foreign Cuisines, Brand Shopping, Leisure & Fitness and so on. Nowadays, over 80 of China's Time-honored Brands along the street unfold the far-reaching cultural deposits and characteristics of historic heritages of the Qianmen Area.
What is worth mentioning in Qianmen is the trolley car. It is the first trolley car in Beijing and was open to people on December 17, 1924. At that time, there were totally 10 trolley cars going between Qianmen and Xizhimen. Because of the noise made by the trolley car, people also called it Lam Lam Bus. It once stopped its works on May 6, 1966 and was restarted on January 1, 2009. It is just like traveling in the old Beijing when sitting on it and enjoying the beauty outside the bus.
Guanghelou is a must-go place when coming to Qianmen as it is a perfect place for people to get a comprehensive understanding of Beijing Opera. Guanghelou was founded in late Ming Dynasty and was the first to be popular among people. Guanghelou, together with Hualelou, Guangdelou and Diyi Wutai was called four popular theaters in Beijing. Guanghelou was a private theater and became prosperous during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty. Guanghelou was no longer a private theater any more during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and open to customers. It is said that Emperor Kangxi has ever enjoy Beijing Opera here and written a couplet for Guanghelou. Since the opening and reform of China, films and TV programs have been very popular among people and many old theaters were closed. Guanghelou survived, but it was also a very hard time for Guanghelou to continue its business. Beijing Opera has never been on at Guanghelou since 1996. Although there is no longer Beijing Opera, its history and Beijing Opera culture are still worth appreciating.
As an old Beijing street, Qianmen Street has collected many time-honored restaurants and shops, where you can see various delicacies and old Beijing things. For example, you can buy Qipao at Ruifuxiang, buy old Beijing cloth shoes atNeilianshengand enjoy Peking roast duck at Quanjude and Bianyifang. As an old restaurant that specializes in roast duck, Quanjude has been doing its business for years and it has undergone huge changes in its façade. But people still can find the original façade of it. It now becomes a wall inside the restaurant.
Therefore, come and enjoy yourselves in Qianmen, and you will surely love and be finally impressed by the great old Beijing.
