Does Beijing also have Shikumen? After the restoration and opening of the "Shanghai style alleyway" in Tai'an, it presents a strong Shanghai style alleyway atmosphere
The deeply restored Shikumen, colorful and mottled glass windows... In the old city of Beijing, which is filled with alleys and courtyards, the "Shanghai style alleyway" Tai'an Li is undoubtedly a unique presence. As the only existing alleyway style Shikumen building in Beijing, strolling through it and experiencing a completely different architectural style makes one feel as if they are in Shanghai thousands of miles away.
Xiangchang Xinshi District, located in Xicheng District, Beijing, was built in the early period of the Republic of China. It starts from Hufangqiao Street in the north, reaches Xiannongtan in the south, Xuexue Road in the east, and Hufang Road in the west. The first comprehensive shopping mall, the first rooftop garden, the first women's theater, the first cinema specializing in foreign blockbusters, the first transportation post, and the first taxi shop were born in the new urban area
Tai'anli was one of the iconic buildings in the new urban area at that time, built between 1915 and 1918, covering an area of 3120 square meters. Its architectural form is unique, imitating the alleyway style layout of Shanghai, consisting of two rows of six two-story enclosed buildings with inner courtyards. Tai'anli was originally a gathering place for high-ranking officials and nobles, with a combination of Eastern and Western architectural styles and decorations such as clear water walls, door and window forms, horse pavilions, parapets, railings, and patio canopies. Its architectural style, materials, technology, and craftsmanship were ahead of traditional Chinese architecture at that time, and it was a representative of the active westernization of architecture during the Republic of China period.
Due to historical reasons, Tai'an Village gradually declined and became a residential area. In 2009, the Xicheng District Government initiated the relocation of Tai'an Village. The relocation was completed in 2018, and the renovation was completed in 2019. In 2020, it was included in the first batch of the "Revitalization and Utilization Plan for Cultural Relics and Buildings". In April 2023, Tai'anli transformed into a cultural and artistic center, becoming a comprehensive cultural and artistic space that integrates socializing, creativity, reading, cuisine, and cultural experience. It is also the first project to appear in the first batch of cultural relics and architecture revitalization and utilization plans in Xicheng District.
"We adhere to the concept of 'coming together, coming alive, moving forward, and standing up', and promote the transformation of cultural relics and ancient buildings into a new space that matches the functions of urban development on the basis of vacating, repairing, and preserving the original cultural flavor." said Hu Xuejing, the operation manager of the Tai'anli Cultural Relics Revitalization and Utilization Project at Beijing Xuanfang Dahou Investment Management Co., Ltd.
The reporter saw on site that the semi open space was divided into two rows by a 70 meter path, with bookstores, cafes, script societies and other business formats arranged neatly. The coffee has a rich and fragrant taste, and the reading space is filled with the fragrance of books. History and modernity, culture and commerce, tradition and fashion meet here. Consumers who come here to admire the name wander here, taking photos, watching exhibitions, browsing bookstores, drinking coffee
Auntie Zhu, who was born and raised in Beijing, said, "I didn't really know this place before. Today, when I came to visit it, it was completely different from the Beijing Hutong where I used to live when I was a child. It felt like I was in Shanghai. My wife and I came here to take photos, and when we got home, we made it into a 'beautiful article' and posted it online."
The Shikumen Era, located in Tai'an Li, is a multicultural experience hall of the Republic of China. It cleverly integrates scattered folk art and life elements with architecture and culture, and embeds various elements and symbols from the Republic of China era into the space. By reproducing the scene, let everyone immerse themselves in the "food, clothing, housing, transportation, and entertainment" in the life of the Republic of China. The salesperson informed us that