What we do know is that several hundred years ago, Beijing's twisting lanes included Lvshi (donkey market) Hutong, where wooden poles once lined the street and livestock salesmen shouted while prospective buyers pried open the mouths of donkeys and mules to check their teeth. Veterinarians, leather salesmen and blacksmiths squatted in wait to examine and equip newly purchased animals. These scenes are recorded vividly in a book called Shuntianfuzhi, written in the year 1886 during the Qing Dynasty.

Near the end of the dynasty, Lvshi Hutong's name was changed to Lishi Hutong to sound more civilized, because li means courtesy. This hutong is crammed full of historical residences, as well as donkey meat restaurants, the one remaining legacy of its ungulate-hawking past.

Lishi Hutong is located in southeast Dongcheng District, with Chaoyangmen Nanxiaojie to its east and Dongsi Nandajie to its west. It may seem difficult to imagine that a mere three kilometers from the Forbidden City, a bustling raucous livestock market once existed. Modern day Lishi Hutong is still chaotic, now with junk dealers sorting scraps. Unwise is the driver who tries to bring his car down this lane. Congruous ancient gray buildings line the roadsides, now residences for Lishi locals.

Bus Route: take bus No. 2, 82, 110, 111, 116, 685 to get there

Subway Route: take subway Line 6 and get off at Dongsi Station

Source: china.org.cn