Liulichang Street
Liulichang Street was once a flourishing cultural
center during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) where scholars,
painters and calligraphers gathered to purchase materials, exchange
ideas, compose poetry, write books and paint pictures.
In the modern age, the street is located in downtown
Beijing by the Peace Gate and large scale renovations completed
in 1984, have transformed the street into an antique market that
resembles a Chinese village. The shops that flank the street are
filled with genuine and convincing imitation paintings, calligraphy,
pottery, carpets, vases, books, scrolls and chops.
All genuine antiques purchased here can be taken
out of China as they have been authenticated by experts and certificates
are available in the stores.
The street is a mixture of state-run and privately
owned shops and you should definitely bargain before making purchases.
There are also replicas of traditional teahouses and wineshops,
as well as a Confucian restaurant for tourists to rest and enjoy
Chinese cuisine
|