Liulichang Cultural Street in Beijing

Liulichang Cultural Street in Beijing

Liulichang Cultural Street Facts

Liulichang Antiques Street is now located outside Hepingmen, west to south and north Liu Lane in Xuanwu district and east to Yan Shou Temple street with a length of 800 meters. In Yuan Dynasty, official cave dwelling was set to produce glazed tiles. In Ming dynasty, since a series of palaces were to be built, the cave dwelling was expanded. Finally, Liulichang Antiques Street became one of the five factories of the industry department at that time.

Chinese Name: 琉璃厂文化街

Type: Cultural Street

Address: South Xinhua Street of the Heping Gate, stretching from South North Liu Lane in the west to the Yanshousi Street in the east, Xuanwu District, Beijing.

Best Seasons: All year round

Recommended Visiting Hours: about 2-4 hours

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Why is Liulichang Cultural Street so Special?

The Liulichang (Factory of Colored Glaze) Cultural Street is a must-go place when travelling in Beijing if you are interested in curios, calligraphy, painting, jade, and other traditional artworks.
It is one of the most well-known traditional business streets in Beijing City, which is famous for the 4 treasures of the Chinese study (writing and painting brushes, ink sticks, paper for traditional calligraphy and painting, and ink slabs), antiques, calligraphy, paintings and so on.
Starting from Yanshousi Street in the east, Liuxiang Alley in the west, and South Xinhua Street in the middle, the Liulichang Street is comprised of around 100 shops on both sides of the street with assorted treasures for you to explore.

Where is Liulichang Cultural Street?

History of Liulichang Cultural Street

During the time of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a colored glaze factory (Liuli Chang in Chinese) was in production there, which made glazed tiles for the palaces, temples and residences of the officials, hence the name. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), many businessmen and venders began to sell curios and old books there.

Over years the factory was gradually replaced by the bazaar of calligraphy, painting, copybook, artifacts and the four treasures of the study. i.e. writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper. Later the street fell into absence of lively atmosphere for a time until the rebuild in the year 1982 that revived it. Now shops and houses of gray tiles and bricks together with sculptures and colored image are lined orderly by the street, making it taste more classical.

Highlights of Liulichang Cultural Street

Guanfu Classic Art Museum

As the first private museum in our country, it was opened in 1997, with displays of about 50 porcelains from the late Ming Dynasty as well as old-fashioned furniture, carpets and costumes and others of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can not only appreciate the art works but also feel the history better.

Beijing Opera Remains

Liulichang Cultural Street also had often been selected as the platform for the performance of Beijing Opera. These show buildings and assembly halls now become a bright sight of the culture of this street. This soil has nurtured many opera superstars such as the well-known Mei Lanfang, around here you can still find the former residence relics of some of them.

Changdian and Haiwangcun Park

The noisiest place you may find in the street is Changdian in its south. Since the Ming Dynasty, a large temple fair had been held for the first 16 days of the Spring Festival (Lunar Jan.1 – Jan.16). It became a custom to stroll in the fair during the Chinese New Year. Now, this characteristic festival has been resumed after many years’ decline since the end of Qing Dynasty. There is still another line of scenery in this area. Beside a branch shop of China Bookshop is the old relics of Haiwangcun Park. Built in 1917, it was the centre of bazaar and the busiest place in Changdian.

Recommended Beijing Tour

How to Get to Liulichang Cultural Street

Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)

If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to Liulichang Cultural Street in Beijing in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.

Independent Traveler

1. Take bus 7, 14, 15, 66 or 70 and get off at Liulichang Station.
2. Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Hepingmen Station, get out of the station from Exit D1 or D2 (southwest exit), and walk south for 550 meters (600 yards).

Useful Travel Tips

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Virtual Shopping in Liulichang

The China Bookstore, Rongbaozhai, and Jiguge are the most famous antique stores in Liulichang. The China Bookstore located at the back of a courtyard of the first complex on the north, sells second-hand foreign language books.

Here’s a short list of the types of things you’ll find at Liulichang:
* Tea shops selling tea and Yixing teapots
* Book stores stocking art books and calligraphy books by the masters
* Curio shops selling chinoiserie and lots of junk
* Galleries selling Chinese paintings and scrolls
* Antiques dealers selling everything from life-size terracotta warriors to miniature jade carvings.
Selling points
- Long history and rich cultural atmosphere.
- One of Beijing’s traditional old quarters.
- Series of traditional Chinese housing
- Various craftwork, artistry, and antiques.
- Many famous old stores