Jiafu Coffee, Lian Coffee, 1901Cafe... These cafes have spontaneously opened in Beijing's ancient buildings, carrying the charm of antiquity while ushering in new life and attracting numerous customers to visit and take photos. "I want to 'converse' with the ancients in the aroma of coffee, and chat with modern people", said Mr. Li, one of the customers.

A new scene | Coffee and tea breathe life into ancient buildings

Last weekend, a citizen named Xiao Huang visited Tanzhe Temple with his parents and was immediately attracted by the exquisite cafe inside the quaint courtyard. "The Pear Tree Courtyard still retains its old appearance." said Dama, the proprietor of Jiafu Coffee. This rustic style is one of the reasons that deeply moved her to open a shop here. Tanzhe Temple, originally named "Jiafu Temple" when it was first built in the early Jin Dynasty, shares a similar pronunciation with "Jiafu", and also carries the beautiful meaning of increasing blessings and good fortune.

There is more than one coffee shop located in ancient buildings. Two buildings located in the Ming City Wall Ruins Park were originally used as duty rooms for guards stationed on the city wall during the Ming and Qing dynasties. They were reconstructed at the original site based on historical records in 1988. After this year's Spring Festival, a coffee shop named Lian Coffee opened here. "This location is very special. It is the only remaining section of the inner-city wall in Beijing," said Qianqian, the proprietor. "We hope to carry the ancient charm in a place with such historical background, and then infuse it with new life through the combination of coffee and tea, presenting it to everyone."

At the intersection of Xi'anmen Street and Xihuangchenggen North Street, a coffee shop named 1901Cafe is situated in the annex building of the Xishiku Catholic Church located on the north side of the street. The annex building continues the Gothic architectural style of the church, with tall three-story brick and wood structures inside, adorned with vintage wall-mounted telephones, typewriters, old newspapers, and mottled walls, creating an otherworldly ambiance. On weekend afternoons, people engage in conversations or work in the seating areas or hold books while enjoying a leisurely afternoon.

When Songzi, the proprietor of 1901Cafe, initially opened the shop, she was also drawn to the extraordinary historical background of the building. "The wooden floors were warped, loose, and had large gaps. The roof would leak when it rained. After repairing it, we had to re-sand and repaint it to achieve its current appearance. Brick and wood structures have high fire protection requirements, so we took special precautions during the renovation." Songzi recalled.

A new driving force: Open operation is a form of preservation

For ancient buildings, open operations serve as a form of preservation compared to staying closed off. In each building brimming with historical heritage, the operators blend the old with the new, allowing the weighty historical culture to continue and be inherited among consumers.

Translator: TANG Yingqi

Reviewer: ZHAO Huinan