Thriving Business

 In early Yongle Period of Ming Dynasty, people established “Lang Fang” in places where business prospered to open shops; In Qing Dynasty, the South City became the place of staying for people who came to Beijing for business trip, education or business. Requirements on clothing, food, living and traveling of officials and common people created vast market. Therefore, Xuannan gradually became the shopping center and business streets for various trades at Dazhalan, Caishikou, Liulichang and Tianqiao, ranging from antique, jade article, catering and commercial industries. For hundreds of years, numerous old brands became famous all over the world for its unique cultural content and honest intellectual businessmen, forming a beautiful part of Xuannan Culture.

 Ten Special Business Streets (Pic)

From the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty until the Republic of China, Xuannan business and service industry developed and thrived. Faced different service objects from officials to citizens, the clever businessmen seized business opportunities and developed market, gradually formed the special business streets with centralized shops. More than ten streets, namely Zhubaoshi, Xiheyan, Langfangtoutiao, Langfangertiao, Langfangsantiao and Liulichang, created the unique brand of Xuannan business by its distinctive and tasteful industrial operations, which was recognized by the market.

 Financial Industry (Pic: Qianshi Lane, Bank of Shijia Lane, Layout of banks on Xiheyan Street)

The thriving business stimulated the development of financial industry in Xuannan, financial industry in Qing Dynasty and modern banking once flourished here. The center of sycee workshop of Qing—Zhubaoshi Street collected almost all government-authorized workshops in Qing Dynasty, which specially made standard sycees for the government; one the narrowest lanes—Qianshi Lane was once the place to exchange silver and copper cash, and has the officially authorized “eighteen workshops” and “currency market;” After modern banking emerged, about half of the new banks were located in Xiheyan, Shijia Lane and Langfangtoutiao Street.

Old Brands

There was an old saying in Beijing, “Ma Ju Yuan on head, Nei Lian Sheng on feet, Rui Fu Xiang on body and Si Da Heng in pocket,” which vividly reflected the relationship of old brands with people in Beijing.

Ma Ju Yuan

Ma Ju Yuan, founded in the 22^nd year of Jiaqing Period of Qing Dynasty, was an “official hattery” specializing in black gauze caps for the Qing Government developed from a small ordinary hattery. In the Republic of China, it stopped producing black gauze cap and turned to skullcap and general helmet (which was also called four happiness cap and wind helmet). In 1930s and 1940s, it began to produce sea dragon and latrine three-tile cap, turkey leather cap and various soft felt hats. Ma Ju Yuan was famous for its authentic material and solid work, being reputed as the “head of the hat industry in Beijing.”

Nei Lian Sheng (Pic)

Nei Lian Sheng was founded in the 3^rd year of Xianfeng Period of Qing Dynasty, Nei referred to the Court, Lian Sheng meant being promoted for three classes upward. Its customers were mainly officials in the court, the intelligent operator established a customer’s file, i.e. Records of Shoes. The secret file being carried on for more than one hundred years recorded the sizes of feet of numerous officials. Thus not needding to go to Nei Lian Sheng, they could buy suitable court boots. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, staffs in Nei Lian Sheng mainly made cloth shoes with thousand-layer sole for the leaders of the Central Government.

Rui Fu Xiang (Pic)

In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, the famous Eight Silk Shops occupied the most of the silk market shares. Rui Fu Xiang, founded in the 19^th year of Guangxu Period of Qing Dynasty (1989), by its unique management and open operation, took the lead among the eight shops. “Fu” referred to Qing Fu, a kind of insect originated from the legend “Searching for God,” which could return with money and bring back good luck and profit. In the prosperous time of Rui Fu Xiang, it not only had five branches at Dazhalan, but also opened branches in Jinan, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao and Shanghai. By chained operation, it became a famous silk shop across the country.

 Beijing Heniantang Drug Store (Pic)

Heniantang Drug Store, founded in the 4^th year of Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty (1525), was originally located at the current No. 11, north of Caishikou Street, and was one of the oldest brands in the business history of Beijing. It was said that the tablets of He Nian Tang and West He Nian Tang were written by Yan Song, the powerful minister of Ming Dynasty and Yan Shifan, the son of Yan Song. And the couplets on the left and right tablets, as well as the hall pillars of “adjusting vigor,” “fostering harmony,” “seeking for health and longevity” and “turning to absorption and accumulation,” were written by Qi Jiguang, the famous general of Ming Dynasty and Yang Jiaoshan, the famous minister. In operation, He Nian Tang’s traditional Chinese medicine was famous for its authentic material, elaborate processing and excellent effect. The old saying of “Tong Ren Tang’s pill, powder, paste, pellet” and “He Nian Tang’s decoction, compound, shredded herbs.”

Tong Ren Tang (Pic)

 Tong Ren Tang was founded by the Le family in the eighth year of Kangxi Period of Qing (1669). The drug store stuck to the ancient instruction of “not saving even trivial manual work, not reducing very costful material,” and collected court, ancient and historical descriptions to create ten famous brands of traditional Chinese patent medicine. Tong Ren Tang became famous for its perfect medicine, excellent effect, honesty and credit. In the first year of Yongzheng Period (1723), Yongzheng appointed Tong Ren Tong to provide medicine for imperial court.

 Wang Zhi He (Pic)

Wang Zhi He, founded in the eighth year of Kangxi Period of Qing, took the lead in condiments for its secret recipe from ancestors, carefully-selected raw materials, perfect skills, honesty and sincerity.

Liu Bi Ju (Pic)

Liu Bi Ju, founded in the ninth year of Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty, was the oldest and the most famous sauce and pickles shop. It was said that the gold-lettered signboard was written by Yan Song, the prime minister of Ming Dynasty. Liu Bi referred to six necessities, necessary millet and rice, alcohol yeast, complete washing, excellent porcelain, enough duration and sweet water or spring. The pickles of Liu Bi Ju were good at color, smell and taste, and were exported overseas.

Liulichang’s Ancient Book Industry (Pic)

 Liulichang was in its peak time during Qianlong Period of Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong organized scholars to edit the Imperial Collections of Four Treasuries, which brought unprecedented opportunities for the ancient book industry at Liulichang. The sales of ancient books at Liulichang also provided large quantities of ancient books for the edition of the Imperial Collections of Four Treasuries. There were over 30 book stores at Liulichang, later the number increased. Since the Republic of China, Liulichang was still the distributing center of ancient and old books. There were famous book stores as Sui Ya Zhai, Lai Xun Ge, Han Wen Zhai, Jin Xue Zhai and Qing Yun Tang.

Liulichang Antique Industry (Pic: Antique Shop 1)

 The imperial examination system gradually perfected in Qing Dynasty, scholars and examination candidates gathered in the Capital, the antique industry emerged as a result to facilitate social activity and interpersonal relation. Many antique merchants set up shops in Qianlong Period of Qing Dynasty here in Liulichang. Since the middle of Qing Dynasty, over 120 antique shops were opened, the oldest ones included Bo Gu Zhai, De Bao Zhai, Bi Cai Zhai, Lun Gu Zhai and Mei Gu Zhai. The Maogong Ding, the most important unearthed cultural relic in the 19^th century was found in De Bao Zhai.

South Paper Shop in Liulichang (Pic: Rong Bao Zhai)

The South Paper Shop on the Culture Street of Liulichang was involved in the four treasures industry, besides selling brush, ink, paper and inkstone, it also exhibited paintings and calligraphy for sales. Among numerous south paper shops, Rong Bao Zhai was the most famous one. Its woodblock print could be rated as unrivalled, which could be mixed with the genuine ones. Tongguzhai Inkstone Shop, Daiyuexuan Lake Brush Shop, Cuiwenge Lettering Shop all enjoyed high fames for their specialized operations.

Langfangertiao Jade Street (Pic)

Lang Fang Er Tiao neighbored Dazhalan, where over 90 shops among more than 100 sold jewelries and jade articles. Each shop was in picturesque disorder and in an ancient style; all of them sold glazed and brilliant jewelries and jade articles; all had skillful craftsmen with perfect techniques. Various emeralds, corals, jades and agates were elaborate and priceless. Therefore, the Langfangertiao Street was called “Jade Street,” its fame attracted magnates and celebrities both at home and abroad.

Beijing Cuisine in Xuannan

In late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, the food culture in Beijing boomed, Beijing cuisine with the Moslem, official and imperial court snack food as the backbone formed. Xuannan was the center of famous restaurants and delicacies, taking the lead in catering industry of Beijing. The rinse mutton slices, created by the nomad, was introduced into Xuannan in Song and Liao Dynasty, and became the delicacy with Beijing flavor.

 Shandong Cuisine in Xuannan (Pic)

In Ming Dynasty, Shandong cuisine came to imperial court and became imperial food. In Ming and Qing Dynasty, officials from Shandong Province increased, they went to Beijing with their household cooks, and then many people from Shandong opened restaurants in Beijing. Among those restaurants, those named as “Tang,” “Ju,” or “Lou” was the most famous ones. About 70% or 80% restaurants were located around Dazhanlan in Xuannan.

Snack Food on Niujie Street

Hui people made living by selling snack foods for years, and formed the professional characteristics of opening business with small capital as “two knives” and “eight ropes.” Various snack foods became more and more delicate, the skills were inherited by generations, together with a special phenomenon: food name consisted of variety plus surname of the inventor, such as Sticky Rice Cake Yang. There were more than 200 snack foods of Hui nationality, constituting a part of Beijing cuisine. Its Beijing style and Beijing flavor also represented the national custom in Beijing.