Many place names in Beijing contain numbers, which are mostly related to Beijing's rich historical and cultural heritage. History gives meaning to place names, and the stories hidden in the numbers enrich Beijing's unique culture.
Qixian Xiang (Seven Sages Lane)
Qixian Xiang is located in Gongmenkou Sitiao Hutong which behind the Beijing Luxun Museum, and is less than 100 meters long. There are only seven small courtyards, each with the same size and layout, which is quite unique.
It is said that seven teachers, known as the seven sages, used to live in this lane, hence the name Qixian Xiang. There were originally two small alleys running north and south on both sides of the lane, called Dongjiaogan (sedan pole on the east) Alley and Xijiaogan(sedan pole on the west)Alley. The seven sages lived between the two alleys, as if sitting in a sedan chairs carried by two poles.
Bawangfen (The Tomb of the eighth prince Nurhaci)
Photo source: Bawangfen Long-distance Bus Station
Bawangfen is located on the north bank of the Tonghui River, southwest of the Sihui Bridge. It was the tomb of Prince Ying, the twelfth son of Nurhaci, the founder of the Qing Dynasty, and is also a well-known tomb of a Qing Dynasty prince in Beijing. Regent Dorgon led Prince Ying and Prince Dodo to capture Beijing. Prince Ying was named Prince Ying and ranked eighth among the princes, hence the name "Ba Wang" (the eighth princes). After Dorgon died, Prince Ying conspired to inherit the regent's position, but was imprisoned and later executed. His ashes were buried on the bank of the Tonghui River, and later became known as "Bawangfen".
After Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, in recognition of Prince Ying's founding merits, he posthumously conferred him the title of Duke Zhenguo and began to repair his tomb. In the eleventh year of the Qianlong reign (1746 AD), Emperor Qianlong rebuilt and expanded Bawangfen to commemorate Prince Ying's founding merits.
However, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Prince Ying's descendants demolished the palace gate and the hall of offerings of Bawangfen, and sold them as bricks, tiles, and wood. Later, they also cut down all the ancient trees. By then, Bawangfen was no longer what it used to be.
In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, this area was requisitioned for the construction of the factories of wine and instruments, and a residential area was quickly formed around Bawangfen to support the factories. The Bawangfen was completely destroyed. Today, Bawangfen is bustling with traffic and surrounded by high-rise buildings. Dozens of bus routes have stops here, making it a landmark outside of Jianguomen.
Jiuwan Hutong (Nine Bends Hutong)
Jiuwan Hutong is located in the eastern part of Xicheng District, connected to Puchenshi Hutong at the east end and leading to Xiaoweiying Hutong at the west end, with a total length of about 390 meters.
Jiuwan Hutong in the Ming Dynasty was named after a small temple, called the Bore Temple Hutong, and belonged to the Zhengnan Fang. In the late Qing Dynasty, due to there are many twists and turns of the hutong, it was renamed Jiuqu Wan. After the Republic of China, it was called Jiudao Wan. In 1965, it was renamed Jiuwan Hutong. The hutong was derived from a river ditch in the early years, so the character "wān" (弯) has a water radical with three dots.
As the name suggests, Jiuwan Hutong is known for its many twists and turns. Within a length of only 390 meters from east to west, there are straight turns, sharp turns, oblique turns, and gentle turns. It is truly a series of bends and twists. Entering from the east end of the hutong, it is relatively spacious and no different from other hutongs. As visitors go further west, the hutong becomes narrower and narrower, and the narrowest point at the west end can only accommodate one person to pass through with difficulty.
