Dashilar, Historic commercial street in southern Beijing, China
Dashilar is a historic commercial street in southern Beijing that stretches for 275 meters from Qianmen Gate. The street is lined with small shops selling traditional Chinese medicine, silk fabrics, footwear, and other local goods, many of which have operated for generations.
The street emerged in the 15th century when merchants built wooden fences at the entrances to protect their goods from theft. These fences gave the street its name – Dashilar means large fence – and shaped its function as a protected trading zone for centuries.
The street's name comes from the wooden fences that merchants built at the entrances centuries ago to protect their goods. Walking here today, you notice how the shops still reflect this protective spirit, with families running the same businesses and selling the same types of products their ancestors did.
The street can get very crowded, especially on weekends and during midday hours, so plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon. Wear comfortable walking shoes since you will need to navigate through narrow passages and move at a leisurely pace to explore the shops.
Right next to Dashilar runs Qianshi Hutong, a tiny alleyway that measures only about 70 centimeters wide in some spots. This unusually narrow passage was originally designed to prevent thieves from easily riding through, and today it offers a striking contrast to the busy street beside it.
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