Thriving industry during the Qing Dynasty

During the Shunzhi Reign (1644-1662) in the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the royal Manchu people and Han ethnic group were living in different parts of the city. Liu li chang was located in the western part of the outer city where top Han officials dwelled. Provincial guildhalls from all over the country were thereafter built nearby. Local officials and candidates for the imperial exams also usually gathered in the book fair of Liu li chang. The center of book fairs had shifted from Qianmen and Dengshikou to Liu li chang finally. Various booksellers across the country settled here and built some huge bookstores. The prosperous marketplace and other conveniences made Liu li chang the biggest book fair in Beijing, forming a cultural street with a strong literary atmosphere. Later related products like pens, ink, paper, inkstones, antiques, paintings and calligraphies could also be found here. Meanwhile, a school and park were built around the original site of the glazed tile factory, which have since become the center of Liu li chang.

  Time-honoured Stores  

Liu li chang is characterized by its unique cultural and artistic atmosphere, which has been gradually formed since the mid Qing Dynasty and dating back nearly 200 years. The street now boasts a lot of ancient stores as well as the biggest store of ancient books in Beijing. Meanwhile, three major Chinese publishing houses including the famous Commercial Press are also located here. But the most famous ancient store is Rongbaozhai (Studio of Glorious Treasures). Famous for its collection of calligraphy and paintings that span centuries, Rongbaozhai is now one of the most illustrious traditional art galleries in China. Originally it was the name Liu li chang that made the stores along the street famous, but now stores like Rongbaozhai also make Liu li chang renown among Chinese and tourists alike as copies of famous artworks by Rongbaozhai enjoy great international fame. There is tale that Qi Baishi, the famous master of traditional Chinese painting could not recognize his own original work from the replica by Rongbaozhai.

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