Liulichang Antiques Street, Beijing

If you love collecting antiques, the best place to find the very essence of Chinese culture is Liulichang Street in Beijing. Tourists flock this street to find exquisite Chinese paintings, handicrafts, antiques and calligraphy works.

This street is close to Xicheng District’s Peace Gate. Liulichang was popular for its glaze materials. Right from 1271, as early as in Yuan Dynasty, supply of glazed tiles for palace decorations went from the glaze factories in this area.

In fact, Liulichang has provided the glaze materials for Yuan, Ming and Ling dynasties. Glazed tiles from here were used to decorate mansions, palaces and gardens including the famous Summer Palace and Forbidden City.

A lot of antiques from the palaces came into the market after the collapse of Qing Dynasty in 1911. Liulichang became one of the most famous distribution centers of calligraphy works, antiques, handicrafts and Chinese paintings. At the Liulichang Antiques Street, you will find many Chinese featured items such as ink-stick, calligraphy brush, rice paper and ink-slab.

Liulichang Street as you find it today was renovated in 1980s. Tourists flock this street to purchase exquisite Chinese artifacts at some of the most renowned shops. The oldest shops here are in existence for the past 100 years and they employ professionals who are trained at identifying original and authentic antiques. Most of the vendors on this street work between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.