Historical records show that since the Ming Dynasty, camel caravans carrying coal entered Beijing from Mentougou via Fuchengmen. The intersection of Dashilar and Meishi Street was one of the main places for coal trading in Beijing. Later, it gradually developed into a commercial area, and the coal market was abandoned but its name was preserved.

During the reign of Qianlong, Mishi Street was divided into two. North of Dashilar was called North Mishi Street, and the other part was called South Mishi Street. At the beginning of the 20th century, several famous paper shops appeared in the north section of North Meishi Street, so it was also called "Paper Alley". Therefore, the North Meishi Street was divided into three parts: Paper Alley from the west of the Langfang Toutiao to the east of the Yangmeizhu Street; Meishi Bridge from the east of Yangmeizhu Street to the west of Dashilar Street; Meishi Street from the west Dashilar Street to the West Street of Zhushikou.