A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
CO NTENT 11
Postscript as Preface
17
Nanluo Narration
36
The Commercial Origin of Nanluoguxiang
44
We Come from Hong Kong
52
Time Frozen in the Fragrance of Coffee
60
Those Flowers
68
A Fighter Plane Engineer’s Obsession with Hutong
76
In the Name of Nostalgia
84
Red Lantern Hung High
92
Carry the Chinese-Western Combination to the End
8
9
100
My Home Is inside the Second Ring Road
108
Drama Is Free
116
Axonometric Models of Nanluoguxiang
119
Hutong Stories
129
Chronological Events of Nanluoguxiang
137
Map of Nanluoguxiang
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
CO NTENT 11
Postscript as Preface
17
Nanluo Narration
36
The Commercial Origin of Nanluoguxiang
44
We Come from Hong Kong
52
Time Frozen in the Fragrance of Coffee
60
Those Flowers
68
A Fighter Plane Engineer’s Obsession with Hutong
76
In the Name of Nostalgia
84
Red Lantern Hung High
92
Carry the Chinese-Western Combination to the End
8
9
100
My Home Is inside the Second Ring Road
108
Drama Is Free
116
Axonometric Models of Nanluoguxiang
119
Hutong Stories
129
Chronological Events of Nanluoguxiang
137
Map of Nanluoguxiang
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
NANLUO NARRATION Zhu Qipeng
Today’s Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing’s trendy tourist attractions. It is also the spot where people often spend their weekend and one of stops on the subway line 6. However, around ten years ago, it was just one of Beijing’s many common streets, without special beauty, nor a glaring history. People are born here until growing old, living the most ordinary life. Meanwhile, buildings are constructed and turned in ruins, repeatedly being repaired. From ordinary to special, everything is changing in silence. Although this boundary inside the second ring is often edited by scenery and objects, the record more or less takes on the city’s ordinary course. It seems to have gone through wind and waves, but is actually a trifle of daily life. People pay attention to Nanluoguxiang, and its history has never been forgotten or fallen into the shadows. MEDIEVAL URBAN PLANNING One day, at the end of the 13th century, several new houses appeared in the center of the capital city. The craftsman measured the land, and nailed a
16
17
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
NANLUO NARRATION Zhu Qipeng
Today’s Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing’s trendy tourist attractions. It is also the spot where people often spend their weekend and one of stops on the subway line 6. However, around ten years ago, it was just one of Beijing’s many common streets, without special beauty, nor a glaring history. People are born here until growing old, living the most ordinary life. Meanwhile, buildings are constructed and turned in ruins, repeatedly being repaired. From ordinary to special, everything is changing in silence. Although this boundary inside the second ring is often edited by scenery and objects, the record more or less takes on the city’s ordinary course. It seems to have gone through wind and waves, but is actually a trifle of daily life. People pay attention to Nanluoguxiang, and its history has never been forgotten or fallen into the shadows. MEDIEVAL URBAN PLANNING One day, at the end of the 13th century, several new houses appeared in the center of the capital city. The craftsman measured the land, and nailed a
16
17
A Little Bit of Beijing
30
NANL U O G U X I ANG
31
A Little Bit of Beijing
30
NANL U O G U X I ANG
31
Star Hotels are too common. They are the same all over the world. Staying in boutique hotels is becoming more popular.
The Suos was a rich family wellknown in Beijing during the end of the Qing and the beginning of the Republic. They, along with the Nas, Wangs, and Yangs, were together called the four giants of the capital.
A boutique hotel is a small fashionable hotel with a unique culture.
The predecessor of the Duge Courtyard Art Boutique Hotel is part of the Suos’ garden.
Each unit has its unique aspects: nasturtium, white house, bamboo. A distinct blue door contracts strongly with a standard red doorframe.
Within the courtyard is a smaller yard, quiet and subtle.
If Zhang Yimou’s films have satisfied Westerners’ expectations of Chinese movies and society, Duge Boutique Hotel satisfies, even exaggerates their expectation of noble courtyards.
With a foreign logical model, they design the Chinese courtyard’s image.
The bold color on the wall creates a welcoming and exciting atmosphere. There are blue-floral porcelain wares, Ming-style furniture, red walls and gray tiles, carved beams, needless to say red wine and cigars, flat-panel displays and luxurious hot tubs; Bright red, green, golden and silver: mostly complex, simple, elegant and vulgar.
Star Hotels are too common. They are the same all over the world. Staying in boutique hotels is becoming more popular.
The Suos was a rich family wellknown in Beijing during the end of the Qing and the beginning of the Republic. They, along with the Nas, Wangs, and Yangs, were together called the four giants of the capital.
A boutique hotel is a small fashionable hotel with a unique culture.
The predecessor of the Duge Courtyard Art Boutique Hotel is part of the Suos’ garden.
Each unit has its unique aspects: nasturtium, white house, bamboo. A distinct blue door contracts strongly with a standard red doorframe.
Within the courtyard is a smaller yard, quiet and subtle.
If Zhang Yimou’s films have satisfied Westerners’ expectations of Chinese movies and society, Duge Boutique Hotel satisfies, even exaggerates their expectation of noble courtyards.
With a foreign logical model, they design the Chinese courtyard’s image.
The bold color on the wall creates a welcoming and exciting atmosphere. There are blue-floral porcelain wares, Ming-style furniture, red walls and gray tiles, carved beams, needless to say red wine and cigars, flat-panel displays and luxurious hot tubs; Bright red, green, golden and silver: mostly complex, simple, elegant and vulgar.
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
A Fighter P lane E ngineer ’s Obsession with H utong
68
69
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
A Fighter P lane E ngineer ’s Obsession with H utong
68
69
Duge Courtyard Art Bou que Hotel
Duge Courtyard Art Bou que Hotel
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
My H om e Is inside the S econd R ing R oad
100
101
A Little Bit of Beijing
NANL U O G U X I ANG
My H om e Is inside the S econd R ing R oad
100
101
A Little Bit of Beijing
sacrificial ceremonies. 1904
NANL U O G U X I ANG
1955
established street office in the Nanluoguxiang area.
In the thirtieth year of Guangxu’s reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Academy of Medicine moved to the
1958
East Avenue, Nanluoguxiang’s south gate. 1910
1913
In the second year of Xuantong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty,
1966 – 1976
archways, plaques on buildings, doorways and brick
Nanluoguxiang was included in Zone Three Left.
carvings were destroyed by the red guards, and Nanluoguxiang became a disaster area. Many former
In the second year of the Republic of China, Wanqing
residents relocated as new residents moved in. Nanluoguxiang was renamed as Huihuang Street, with surrounding hutongs renamed. The area eventually
of China, and the original site is still intact today. In the eleventh year of the Republic of China, Wanrong Guobuluo was carried into the Forbidden City from her
recovered after the Cultural Revolution. 1976
courtyard. After the earthquake the shelters still hadn’t
empress of China.
been dismantled, and most courtyards were gradually reduced to storage for groceries.
In the seventeenth year of the Republic of China, Beijing was reduced to Beiping City, with a redefined boundary, with its inner city divided into six districts, and
1978
Nanluoguxiang, and the services range from food and cloth, to entertainment and accommodation. Therefore
In the twenty-seventh year of the Republic of China, the
Nanluoguxiang has become a notable commercial area.
original Yellow Banner Official School was renamed as “The City Front Yuanen Temple Primary School”, now merged with the “Black Sesame Hutong Primary School”.
1987
Li Fuzeng, a resident of the Ju’er Hutong, contacted neighbors to report to the municipal government the situation of the poor bungalow. The following year, Wu
The Central Academy of Drama was established, and the
Liangyong, a professor from Tsinghua University, started
former prime minister’s residence was authorized as its
design work and renovation plans.
location. 1990
132
With the reform and opening up, a large number of self-employed shops have sprung up in the streets of
Nanluoguxiang was transferred into the Inner Five District.
1950
Due to the Tangshan earthquake, Nanluoguxiang was affected, and residents began to build shelters in the
parent’s home in Mao’er Hutong, becoming the last
1938
During the Cultural Revolution, the city’s temples,
the inner city of Beijing was divided into ten districts, and
of the five main pawnshops in the first year of the Republic
1928
Dongcheng district was established and Nanluoguxiang was transferred to Dongcheng district.
pawnshop was established in No.3 of Nanluoguxiang, one
1922
Yu’er hutong office was established, the earliest
The renovation project of Ju’er Hutong was completed and
133
A Little Bit of Beijing
sacrificial ceremonies. 1904
NANL U O G U X I ANG
1955
established street office in the Nanluoguxiang area.
In the thirtieth year of Guangxu’s reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Academy of Medicine moved to the
1958
East Avenue, Nanluoguxiang’s south gate. 1910
1913
In the second year of Xuantong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty,
1966 – 1976
archways, plaques on buildings, doorways and brick
Nanluoguxiang was included in Zone Three Left.
carvings were destroyed by the red guards, and Nanluoguxiang became a disaster area. Many former
In the second year of the Republic of China, Wanqing
residents relocated as new residents moved in. Nanluoguxiang was renamed as Huihuang Street, with surrounding hutongs renamed. The area eventually
of China, and the original site is still intact today. In the eleventh year of the Republic of China, Wanrong Guobuluo was carried into the Forbidden City from her
recovered after the Cultural Revolution. 1976
courtyard. After the earthquake the shelters still hadn’t
empress of China.
been dismantled, and most courtyards were gradually reduced to storage for groceries.
In the seventeenth year of the Republic of China, Beijing was reduced to Beiping City, with a redefined boundary, with its inner city divided into six districts, and
1978
Nanluoguxiang, and the services range from food and cloth, to entertainment and accommodation. Therefore
In the twenty-seventh year of the Republic of China, the
Nanluoguxiang has become a notable commercial area.
original Yellow Banner Official School was renamed as “The City Front Yuanen Temple Primary School”, now merged with the “Black Sesame Hutong Primary School”.
1987
Li Fuzeng, a resident of the Ju’er Hutong, contacted neighbors to report to the municipal government the situation of the poor bungalow. The following year, Wu
The Central Academy of Drama was established, and the
Liangyong, a professor from Tsinghua University, started
former prime minister’s residence was authorized as its
design work and renovation plans.
location. 1990
132
With the reform and opening up, a large number of self-employed shops have sprung up in the streets of
Nanluoguxiang was transferred into the Inner Five District.
1950
Due to the Tangshan earthquake, Nanluoguxiang was affected, and residents began to build shelters in the
parent’s home in Mao’er Hutong, becoming the last
1938
During the Cultural Revolution, the city’s temples,
the inner city of Beijing was divided into ten districts, and
of the five main pawnshops in the first year of the Republic
1928
Dongcheng district was established and Nanluoguxiang was transferred to Dongcheng district.
pawnshop was established in No.3 of Nanluoguxiang, one
1922
Yu’er hutong office was established, the earliest
The renovation project of Ju’er Hutong was completed and
133
A Little Bit of Beijing
18
M ap of N A N L U OG U XI A N G
1
Traveler Bar
2
Letian Pottery Society
3
Initial Shop
4
Shalou Café
5
Little New Café
6
Beiping Café
7
Old Wu Bar
8
Interesting Photos-PMT Art Shop
9
Local Awareness Shop
13 3
2
20
10 Kaopuer Shop 11 Duge Courtyard Art Boutique Hotel 12 Carefully Thinking Bar 13 Ju’er Quarters 14 Penghao Theatre 15 Arch Brick Carving of Former Residence of Fengshan 16 No. 60 Bar
10
18 Suzuki Kitchen
9
N
17 69 Impression Music Café
A
19 Takoyaki Kinpatei
N
20 Kodo Lifehouse
L
8
U
21 Dujiangyuan Restaurant
O
22 Domingo Hair Style Salon
11
G
23 Cambulac Bar
U
(Hutong Bubbles)
X
24 Future Mail Souvenir Shop
I
25 100+ Creative Design Store
A
26 Xiaoqi’s House Clothing Shop
N
22
27 Central Academy of Drama
16
G 25
7
5 4 19 23 24 17
14 27
6 15
12
1
21 26
136
A Little Bit of Beijing
18
M ap of N A N L U OG U XI A N G
1
Traveler Bar
2
Letian Pottery Society
3
Initial Shop
4
Shalou Café
5
Little New Café
6
Beiping Café
7
Old Wu Bar
8
Interesting Photos-PMT Art Shop
9
Local Awareness Shop
13 3
2
20
10 Kaopuer Shop 11 Duge Courtyard Art Boutique Hotel 12 Carefully Thinking Bar 13 Ju’er Quarters 14 Penghao Theatre 15 Arch Brick Carving of Former Residence of Fengshan 16 No. 60 Bar
10
18 Suzuki Kitchen
9
N
17 69 Impression Music Café
A
19 Takoyaki Kinpatei
N
20 Kodo Lifehouse
L
8
U
21 Dujiangyuan Restaurant
O
22 Domingo Hair Style Salon
11
G
23 Cambulac Bar
U
(Hutong Bubbles)
X
24 Future Mail Souvenir Shop
I
25 100+ Creative Design Store
A
26 Xiaoqi’s House Clothing Shop
N
22
27 Central Academy of Drama
16
G 25
7
5 4 19 23 24 17
14 27
6 15
12
1
21 26
136