TouchBeijing.com » Xuanwu http://www.touchbeijing.com Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:38:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Jan. 30th of 2010, snapshot in the Hutongs http://www.touchbeijing.com/jan-30th-of-2010-snapshot-in-the-hutongs/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/jan-30th-of-2010-snapshot-in-the-hutongs/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:01:27 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=2641 For the last few days, Beijing is very warm and sunny. Today I have an afternoon stroll through the alleys in the south of the historic area of Beijing. My itinerary goes as: Baoguosi Temple (a flea market), and Dashilan Area.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/jan-30th-of-2010-snapshot-in-the-hutongs/feed/ 0 First snow of 2009 http://www.touchbeijing.com/first-snow-of-2009/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/first-snow-of-2009/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:21:07 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=2406 Today, 1st Nov., here comes the first snow of 2009, and the snow is a heavy one, it just come without much expectation. I didn’t see such a heavy snow for some time I think, the sky is so generous this year.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/first-snow-of-2009/feed/ 0 New Qianmen Street http://www.touchbeijing.com/new-qianmen-street/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/new-qianmen-street/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:22:29 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=2089

Qianmen (Front Gate) Street named after the Zhengyangmen Gate (正阳门), alias of which was the Front Gate by the locals, the reason was simple, it was on the axis of the city, and was the formal entrance into the inner section of the old Peking, while the Qianmen Street was in the outer section of the City. The street also functioned as a passway when the Emperor was on his visit to the Temple of Heaven.

Due to its special location, it soon came to be a combination of every thing from the Ming Dynasty, little inns for the royal examinees and merchants, restaurants, in 1855 opened the first Pianyifang Roasted Duck (便宜坊), and in 1864 came the first shop of Quanjude Peking Duck (全聚德), and the famous steamed Dumpling restaurant Duyichu (都一处). Many famous Peking brands started their business around here, the famous Dashilan (大栅栏) locates just at the west side of the street in a wandering hutong alleyway, even today, it is still one of the major shopping streets for traditional Beijing stuff.

The Qianmen Street and Dashilan Street Area, was generally called as Qianmen Wai, or Ch’ien Men Wai (前门外), was a whole-sale trading market from the high-end jewellery, jade, banking, to daily stuff like fishes, coal, commissariat, pigs, even today the names of the closeby alley remind us its local history. By the way, the area was also famous for many other entertainments, opera houses, tea houses, night clubs …

In 1900, the north part of the street was destroyed in a big fire set by the Boxers.

From 1980s, some of the old shops kept and many new shops moved into the street, with more and more old buildings demolished, the street lost both its customers and most importantly original tastes gradually. In 2006, the area was in renovation, and it was almost ready done before the Olympic Games in 2008, sure, it regains attention, even now most of the buildings are still in decorations, many visitors come just for taking photos, fancy shops like H&M, Zara are already here, and more will move in.

After the renovation, the street becomes a pedestrian street, the trolley bus is the only way to go through north to south, the ticket charge is 20yuan/person, and very likely that is only the one-way ticket.


Two comparison photos taken in Sep. 2006, and in Sep. 2009, roughly at the same spot.


Most of the buildings are renovated according to their historic records in the 1920s to 1930s, but as most of them came together in a “natural process”, to rebuild them overnight again, not surprisingly some of the details of the buildings are just handled in a much easy way.


A panaromatic view of the street.


A view from north looking to south.


A view to the north, the end building is the Arrow Tower of the Zhengyangmen Gate.


There are many Beijing elements to decorate the street, from the bench, trash bin to the design of the street lamp (in shape like a bird cage).


At the left side, the archway leads into the Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant (全聚德).

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/new-qianmen-street/feed/ 0 8th of April, 2009 http://www.touchbeijing.com/8th-of-april-2009/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/8th-of-april-2009/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:47:07 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=1610 Hutong in the night, near Dashilan Xuanwu District.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/8th-of-april-2009/feed/ 0 Baiyunguan (White Cloud Taoist Temple) http://www.touchbeijing.com/baiyunguan-white-cloud-taoist-temple/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/baiyunguan-white-cloud-taoist-temple/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:26:04 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=823 Taoism, a religion native to China, has a history of 1,800 years. It originated from shamanism and the various practices intended to ensure immortality in the Qin (221-207 BC) and Western Han (206 BC-AD 24) dynasties. Zhang Daoling is credited with founding the religion of Taoism on Heming Mountain (in Dayi County, Sichuan Province) during the reign of Emperor Shundi (126-144).

Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher, is the chief deity of Taoism and is honoured as Taishanglaojun (Lord the Most High). Taoists believe that Tao (the Way), Laozi’s school of thought, is all-embracing and external, conceiving and governing everything, including the sky and the earth. They also believe they can attain longevity and become one with the Tao through special practices of meditation.

The White Cloud Taoist Temple is the chief temple of the Quanzhen Taoist sect and the center of the Longmen sub-sect. According to historical records, Emperor Xuanzong (7l2-756) of the Tang Dynasty built a temple called Tianchangguan to enshrine a stone statue of Laozi. The Tianchangguan was burned down in 1202, but was rebuilt from 1203 to 1216 and renamed Taiji Palace. It was later damaged during war.

Emperor Genghis Khan (1206-1227) of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the temple rebuilt and invited Qiu Changchun, founder of the Longmen sub-sect under the Quanzhen sect, to live there in 1224. Qiu died in 1227 and the Emperor renamed the temple Changchun Palace in his memory.

The temple got its present name in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was damaged twice by war and fire, and rebuilt and repaired several times. Today it is more or less the same as it was after renovation in 1706.

Before 1949, a large fair was held in the temple during the first 20 days of the first lunar month. People came from far away to venerate the enshrined statues, do business and enjoy themselves. Since 1949, it has protected cultural relics and historical sites. Twice, in 1956 and 1981, the government has allocated large sums of money to renovate the temple. During the “cultural revolution”, it was preserved intact, thanks to an army unit stationed here.

The temple is fronted by a magnificent archway. Its buildings are laid out around three parallel axes in several courtyards.

On the central axis, from south to north, are the shrine-halls of Lingguan (the door guard), the Jade Emperor, Qiu Changchun, Siyu (four major deities) and Laolu (the old way).

Qiu Changchun Hall is on the site where Qiu died in 1227. Inside the hall, Qiu’s statue is enshrined. In front of the statue is a valuable relic – a huge bowl made of the knotted root of tree. It was given in offering by Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795). Qiu’s remains are buried beneath the bowl, into which the faithful still offer money.

In Laolu Hall are seven statues of Taoist saints, including Qiu Changchun. On the right is a drum dating from the Ming Dynasty with a dragon painted on the leather drumhead.

Along the west axis stand shrine-halls of Yuanjun (major female deities), Yuanchen (60-year deities), Baxian (the eight immortals), Luzu (or Lu Dongbin), and the Citang (the ancestral worship hall).

Yuanchen Hall dates from 1190 when it was built by Emperor Zhangzong (1190-1208) of the Jin Dynasty to worship the deity of the year in which his mother was born. On the side walls are portraits of each of the deities for the 60-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar. Some visitors like to find the deity of the year in which they were born. This hall has been the most frequently visited by worshippers over the centuries.

In the temple are about 30 Taoist priests, who came from Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and other provinces. They are in robes and wear their hair long and tied into a knot that is kept in place with a silver or jade pin. Some also wear a headband.


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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/baiyunguan-white-cloud-taoist-temple/feed/ 3 6th of March, Hutong around Caishikou Area http://www.touchbeijing.com/6th-of-march-hutong-around-caishikou-area/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/6th-of-march-hutong-around-caishikou-area/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:46:13 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=1426


Two maps on the wall


Close to west Liulichang Street


Qianmen Street


Dangdang Trolley Bus at Qianmen Street


At the south east of Tian’anmen Square.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/6th-of-march-hutong-around-caishikou-area/feed/ 0 26th of Jan. 2009 http://www.touchbeijing.com/25th-of-jun-2009/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/25th-of-jun-2009/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:40:55 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=1330 Today is the first day of New Year.


An almost empty bus.

Followings are taken at Daguanyuan Temple Fair.


Hutongs South of Qianmen area.

Dinner at a Japanese All You Can Eat Reastaurant.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/25th-of-jun-2009/feed/ 0 Qianmen, 31th of Dec. 2008 http://www.touchbeijing.com/qianmen-31th-of-dec-2008/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/qianmen-31th-of-dec-2008/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:09:57 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=1260


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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/qianmen-31th-of-dec-2008/feed/ 0 The Beijing Museum of Traditional Opera http://www.touchbeijing.com/the-beijing-museum-of-traditional-opera/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/the-beijing-museum-of-traditional-opera/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:30:57 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=553 The Beijing Museum of Traditional Opera is located inside the Beijing Huguang Guildhall Chamber of Cultural Prosperity and Ancestral Hall of the Local Worthy.

The museum’s various exhibits have distinctively artistic characteristics. On display in the exhibition hall are several dozen biographies, cultural relics, and costumes and instruments that trace the history of Chinese traditional opera. Stage photos of Peking opera masters in performance are also exhibited.

Address: No.3 Hufangqiao Road, Xuanwu District. Take bus No. 102, 14, 66, 15, or 53, and get off at Hufangqiao

Open: 9:00 — 17:00

Admission: 10 yuan

Website: www.beijinghuguang.com


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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/the-beijing-museum-of-traditional-opera/feed/ 0 Songtangzhai Folk Carving Museum http://www.touchbeijing.com/songtangzhai-folk-carving-museum/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/songtangzhai-folk-carving-museum/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:27:19 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=557 Situated on Liulichang, Beijing’s antique street is the architecturally important Songtangzhai Folk Carving Museum. Privately owned by manager Li Songtang’s family, this gallery is a two-story building from the Qing Dynasty.

The uniquely cohesive exhibition hall and collection, including the stone stairs, gate screen and ceilings, are all part of Li’s functional, as well as beautiful collection.

The museum’s Jiangxi-style stone-carved gate tower dating from the Ming Dynasty, Qing Beijing-style wood-carved tower gate and Shanxi-style brick-carved gate tower, are all considered to be among the most famous carved art of Chinese history. Because Li collects from around the country, his gate towers represent architectural styles of many Chinese regions.

Cultural and historical traditions and folklore is omnipresent throughout the gallery. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) stone block door is carved with pictures of the Hu people — Mongolians who ruled China at that time, feeding and training the mythical Qilin, Chinese folklore beast. Images clearly indicate that the Mongolians were the ruling class of the time. Another stone carving in the museum depicts a military and civil officer presenting an official hat to their master in recognition of his promotion. Another item, a Qing Dynasty wood carving of the River God, was used as a sacrificial object when praying for a good year.

“The Emperor Strolling About,” a stone-carved roof beam, is the most precious piece in the museum. Some 60 figures are carved in the stone, including imperial officers, drummers, guardians, animals and plant designs. It is said that the craftsmen spent at least three years creating these carved images.

As Li’s intention is to spread knowledge of traditional Chinese architectural art to his visitors, there is no fixed ticket price for the museum. Donations are accepted.

Address: No. 14, East Liulichang Road, 100050

Open: 9:00 – 18:00

Tel: 8610-83164662

Admission: Admission is free, but making a donation is suggested.


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