Beijing’s southwest holds a district named Baizhifang. It whispers tales of paper and transformation. Baizhifang Subdistrict sits in Xicheng District. It covers 3.11 square kilometers. That is about 1.20 square miles. It’s home to over 82,000 people. That was the count in 2020.
Baizhifang’s story begins with paper. The Ministry of Rites needed paper back in 1272. So, they established Baizhifang. It means White Paper Workshop. This workshop supplied the government. The area around it adopted the name. The name Baizhifang stuck.
Imagine bustling workshops filled with artisans. They crafted paper for the Yuan Dynasty. This paper wasn’t for everyday use. It was for official documents and decrees. The rustling of paper mixed with the sounds of the city. It created a unique soundscape. Baizhifang wasn’t just a place. It was a vital organ of the empire.
Over the centuries, Baizhifang changed. It was part of different districts and dynasties. The Liao Dynasty saw it as Nanjing’s southwest suburb. The Jin Dynasty placed it within its capital. During the Ming Dynasty, new areas joined Baizhifang. Under the Qing emperors, Qianlong and Guangxu, its administrative status shifted. It was part of Xicheng and then the Right 4th Outer District.
In 1949, Baizhifang became part of the 11th district. A year later, it shifted to the 8th district. By 1952, it belonged to Xuanwu District. The area saw more changes in 1954. Two subdistricts emerged. They were Baizhifang and Guojiajing.
More change came in 1958. Baizhifang grew. It absorbed Guojiajing, Zixinlu, and part of Xinlinqianjie Subdistricts. Then, in 1960, it became a commune. A Revolutionary Committee formed in 1968. Finally, in 1978, it reverted to being a subdistrict.
Today, Baizhifang comprises 19 communities. Shuanghuaili and Youbei Dajie are among them. Yingtaoyuan and Chongxiaosi add to the diverse fabric. Caiyuanjie and Jiangong Beili contribute their character. Xin’an Zhongli and Younei Xijie each have a story. Guangyuanli and Banbuqiao offer unique perspectives. Zixinlu and Lirenjie reflect modern life. Wanboyuan and Qingzhiyuan add tranquility. Pingyuanli Beiqu and Pingyuanli Nanqu complete the picture.
Baizhifang’s boundaries are well-defined. It stretches from Caishikou Street in the east. It reaches Taipingqiao Street in the west. YouAnMen Street marks its southern edge. Nanhengxi Street defines its northern limit.
While the paper workshops are gone, the name remains. Baizhifang is a reminder of Beijing’s past. It connects the present to a time when paper shaped empires. Walking through its streets, you can almost hear the echoes of history. You can almost hear the rustling of paper.