Do you see that intersection bustling with life? That’s Dongsi, a place where history echoes through the ages. We are standing at \u4e1c\u56db\u7826. It’s not just a location. It is a living testament to Beijing’s rich past.
\u4e1c\u56db\u7826 means Eastern Four. It gets its name from the four paifangs or Chinese sign gates. They once marked this very spot. These gates were not just decorations. They were symbols of authority and gateways to the city’s heart.
Imagine Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty. This intersection was already a vital point. Known then as 十字街 or “Cross Street”. It stood at the meeting of 文明门大街 and 齐化门大街.
In 1420, during the Ming Dynasty, the area was formally established. Sign gates arose east of 东安门 and 西安门. The four gates at this eastern intersection became known as \u4e1c\u56db\u724c\u697c. This translates to the “Eastern Four Sign Gates”. Over time, people shortened it to \u4e1c\u56db\u7826.
\u4e1c\u56db\u7826 stood east of the Imperial City. To the west was 西四牌楼 or “Western Four”. These locations were key transport hubs. They also became thriving commercial areas. The sign gates even took on names like 思诚坊, 明照坊, 仁寿坊, and 保大坊.
The sign gates at \u4e1c\u56db\u7826 met their end in 1958. Yet, the name \u4e1c\u56db\u7826 remained. Today, the Dongsi Station serves lines 5 and 6 of the Beijing Subway. It sits directly beneath this historical intersection.
Buses also converge here such as 北京 Bus 106, 110, 116, 684, and 夜10. They stop just south of where we stand. Other buses stop to the east of the \u4e1c\u56db\u7826.
\u4e1c\u56db\u7826 is also famous for Longfusi Snack Street. Here you could savor Beijing snack cuisine. The Dongsi Mosque also rests south of us. It was founded in 1356. It was rebuilt in 1447.
The hutongs or alleyways running east to west are called tiao. They are numbered from south to north. The first is Dongsi Toutiao. The last is Dongsi Shisitiao. Dongsi Shitiao was widened in the 1990s. It became a main thoroughfare.
And so, as we stand here at \u4e1c\u56db\u7826, remember its story. It’s a story of gates and trade. It is a tale of dynasties and change. It is a place where Beijing’s past is always present.