The eight alleys in "Fireworks and Willow Alley"

The brothels in old Beijing were divided into several levels. The earliest brothels were located in the inner city, mostly for official prostitutes. Now there are several alleys to the east of Dongsi South Street, which were once the residence of official prostitutes in the Ming Dynasty, such as Leyan Hutong, where the official prostitutes' band practiced piano and played music. The street of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was called Goulan Hutong in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was sung by prostitutes and entertainers holding on to the railings. From then on, "Goulan" became another name for the brothel. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, when dignitaries held banquets, they asked prostitutes to accompany them with wine, play music and sing, which was called "challenging". Prostitutes here call it "sending notes." By the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, brothels were mainly concentrated on Qianmenwai Street. First, because it is close to the inner city, it is more convenient for dignitaries to go out for fun. Second, there is a train station here, and there are many tourists traveling from north to south. Sanqianmenwai Street, Beijing's famous commercial street, is quite prosperous. Fourth, this area is a place where theaters, teahouses, and restaurants are concentrated, and you can be self-sufficient in eating, drinking, and having fun. The Eight Hutongs of Fireworks and Willow Lanes in old Beijing were once famous at home and abroad, but they did not show the customs and customs of old Beijing. Instead, they once became synonymous with Fireworks and Willow Lanes, also known as the "Eight Major Ports". Ba Hutong is located on the west side of Guanyin Temple Street in Dashilan outside Qianmen. "Eight Hutongs" are fictional. The old book "Sunchon Times Series" proves that at least fifteen alleys in this area belong to the "Hometown of Flowers and Willows". The eight recognized hutongs are Baishun Hutong, Yanzhi Hutong, Hanjiatan, Shaanxi Lane, Shitou Hutong, Wang Guangfu Xiejie, Zhujia Hutong and Li Shamao Hutong. In fact, what old Beijingers call "Eight Hutongs" does not only refer to these eight streets, but generally refers to the Dashilan area outside Qianmen, because there are nearly a hundred brothels outside these eight streets. It's just that most of the brothels in these eight alleys were first- and second-class, and the "grade" of the prostitutes was relatively high, so they were so famous. Prostitutes in old Beijing can be divided into "southern class" and "northern class". Generally speaking, the prostitutes in the "Nan Class" are mainly women from the south of the Yangtze River. They are of a higher grade and are not only colorful but also talented. Such prostitutes are often accompanied by dignitaries, such as Sai Jinhua, Xiao Fengxian and other famous prostitutes in the capital. The prostitutes in "Beiban" are mainly women from the area north of the Yellow River. They are good-looking but have poor cultural quality. Most of the prostitutes in the "Eight Hutongs" are in "Nanban", so they are mostly first- and second-class brothels. Most of the brothels in other areas are "Beiban". At that time, most of the people working as officials and doing business in Beijing were from the south. As a result, the "Eight Hutong" became a place where these dignitaries often visited. The grades of the "Eight Hutongs" are also different. Baishun Hutong, Shaanxi Lane, Yanzhi Hutong, Hanjiatan, etc. are mostly first-rate. The first-class brothel is also called "Yinqing Small Classroom". As the name suggests, "Yin Qing" is mainly about drinking tea, talking about chess, and playing chess, not just about flesh and blood business. Most of the dignitaries who come in and out of the "Yinqing small class" are powerful people, and of course there are also literati. Most of the brothels in Shitou Hutong are second-class, and second-class brothels are also called "teahouses." Wang Guangfu, Xie Jie, Zhujia Hutong and Li Shamao Hutong are mostly third-class brothels. First- and second-level brothels are mainly named after "yard", "pavilion" and "ge", while third- and fourth-level brothels are mostly named after "fang", "class", "building", "store" and "lower place". Eight Hutongs: Baishun Hutong Baishun Hutong was originally called Baishu Hutong. In the Ming Dynasty, it was called Cypress Alley, named after the cypress trees planted there. In the early Qing Dynasty, the homophonic pronunciation took the meaning of "everything goes smoothly", so it was renamed Baishun Hutong. Among the eight major hutongs, Baishun Hutong is the most famous, and the history of each courtyard is also relatively complicated. Many courtyards have changed hands many times since they were built, and some old residents can't explain the ins and outs. Now we know that Baishun Hutong originally had Taiping Hall and Jintai Hall. Later, most of the guild halls were converted into residential buildings. It is said that Li Wenzao lived in this alley when he went to Beijing to meet the emperor

Eight alleys: Rouge Hutong Rouge Hutong, formerly known as Rouge Alley, is 100 meters long and about 5 meters wide. The north gate of Rouge Hutong is in Baishun Hutong, and the south gate is on Liangguang Road. The alley runs north-south, with the East Wall Camp and the West Wall Camp running through it. Now the remaining length is only thirty or forty meters. Although the hutongs are small, they are often included in the eight major hutongs. Rouge Hutong is the shortest of these alleys. There used to be shops selling rouge powder here, mainly used by the fireworks girls in the "Bada Hutong", hence the name Rouge Alley. Rouge Hutong, formerly known as Rouge Lane, connects Baishun Hutong to the north and Tongzhu Shikou West Street to the south. There are a group of high-status prostitutes in the first-class brothels in Rouge Hutong. Among them, Huating is a large courtyard with three courtyards, occupying almost half of the alley. According to Li Jinlong's research, in the Ming Dynasty, this courtyard was called the Su Family Courtyard, and the famous prostitute Su San once lived here. After several changes, its main entrance is now the Baishun Hutong Neighborhood Committee.

The Ming Dynasty novel "A Warning to the World" and the widely circulated stories of Wang Jinglong and Su San in Peking Opera all took place in the "Su Family Courtyard Flower Pavilion" in Rouge Hutong. This is a courtyard house with three entrances. The gate opens in Baishun Hutong. According to historical records, this alley was recorded in the Xianfeng period: "There is an endless stream of incense cars, the prostitutes are fierce, and the drinkers are deafening all night long." Ba Hutong: Hutong Hutong, located in the southwest of Dashilan area outside Qianmen, is an old road alley. The original name is "Hanjiatan". It was not until 1965 that the place name was rectified and it was changed to Hanjia Hutong. Hanjiatan is an alley rich in cultural heritage. Because this ancient alley is one of the birthplaces of the quintessence of Peking Opera, it gave birth to Peking Opera. There is also the Mustard Garden, the former residence of the great drama theorist Li Yu in the early Qing Dynasty. He wrote many famous scripts and drama theories here, and organized and published the "Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual", which is famous at home and abroad. According to historical records, during the Kangxi period, the famous dramatist Li Yu once lived here. After the "Four Benefit Classes" came to Beijing, the third Qing Class was located in Hanjiatan, and the Liyuan Guild Hall in old Beijing was located in No. 36 Courtyard. Most of the alleys are "southern half" brothels. There are more than 20 famous brothels including Xiancai Pavilion, Jinmei Tower, Manchun Courtyard, Jinfeng Tower, Yanchun Tower, Meixian Courtyard and Qingyuanquan. Liu Hua Hutong: Shaanxi Hutong Shaanxi Hutong is a north-south alley. Its northern entrance intersects with Palm Tree Street and reaches Zhushikou West Street in the south. The east side of this alley intersects with Yushu Lane and Wanfu Lane, and the north side intersects with Hanjia Hutong, Baishun Tongtong, and Dongbiying Hutong. It is said that Shaanxi Lane existed in the Ming Dynasty, but what is rare is that it has not changed its name for hundreds of years. As for the origin of Shaanxi Hutongs, according to records in the "Sketches of Xu Ying's Hutongs in Beijing", in the early Ming Dynasty, a large number of merchants gathered in the area outside Qianmen to attract merchants and store goods. This alley gathers many lumber dealers from Shaanxi to stock up on wood, hence the name Shaanxi Alley. Now the most famous building in Shaanxi Lane is the renovated Shanglin Fairy Pavilion. It is a must-go place for tricycle drivers who go alley tours in the Qianmen area. According to the hotel, famous prostitutes Sai Jinhua and Xiao Fengxian in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China once took classes here. However, it is recorded that Sai Jinhua’s Yixiangyuan was located at No. 1 Yushu Lane; Xiao Fengxian’s Yunji Class was located at No. 52 Shaanxi Lane. Those The rickshaw pullers who are not from Beijing are exaggerating and confusing this point, with only one purpose, to make money. The predecessor of Shangxian Pavilion was not a brothel, but a pharmacy, which mainly dealt in "two medicines and one paper". The so-called two medicines are aphrodisiac and musk. It’s not surprising that aphrodisiacs are sold in Bada Hutong. Musk is a good medicine for prostitutes to induce abortion. And a piece of paper refers to ghost paper, which is used by prostitutes after receiving customers. Burning paper after receiving customers is a solace for prostitutes. Eight Hutongs: Shitou Hutong Shitou Hutong starts from Zhushikou West Street in the south and ends at Tieshu Xiejie Street in the north. According to you

The reason is that although there are many brothels in the alleys, there are even more brothels, such as teahouses, restaurants, opium dens, movie theaters, and bookstores, just like today's commercial streets. The predecessor of the famous Dabei Photo Studio in China is located in the west of the north entrance of Shitou Hutong. Fireworks Alley: Wang Guangfu Xiejie Wang Guangfu Xiejie, now called Xiejie Palm Tree, connects the Dahe Xiaoli Shamao Hutong in the east and the Stone Hutong in the west. The houses in this alley are quite dilapidated. In the past, there were third-class brothels here, including the famous Jiuxiang Teahouse, Juqianyuan, Guixiangyuan, Shuangjin Kitchen, Quanle Kitchen, Yuelaidian Kitchen, etc. Li Shamao Hutong was originally divided into Da Li Shamao and Xiao Li Shamao The two alleys are now changed into Da Li Hutong and Xiao Li Hutong. Xiao Li's Shamao is one of the "Eight Hutongs". This alley is not big, with 21 house numbers, but in old Beijing, brothels occupied nearly 20 courtyards. The brothels here are mainly third-class, and the more famous ones include Shuangfeng Building, Meixin Building, Yongquan Building, Tianshun Building, Quansheng Building, Lianshengdian, etc. Because this alley is close to some theaters and restaurants, there are also several second-class brothels. Eight Hutongs: Zhujiahu and Zhujiahu used to be divided into Liuwei Hutong and Hemiaomiao Hutong. There are more than 20 third-class brothels in this alley, such as Yichun House, Lu Shengyuan and Hong Shun Kitchen. Qingfeng Lane, Qingfeng Hutong, Zhumao Hutong, Yanjia Hutong, and Xiyangmao Hutong, which are connected to Zhujia Lake, are also the gathering places for third- and fourth-class brothels and local brothels in old Beijing, but they are not as famous as the "Eight Big Hutongs". Ba Hutong: Wai Lang Ying Hu is named Wai Lang Ying, which can be defined as a place where officials live together, but it is also possible that its land was originally the tomb of a certain Wai Lang. Considering that this area is located in the countryside outside Shanxi and Yuan Dynasty, the possibility of changing "Tuo" to "Ying" is particularly high. Because it was written as "Ying" in the Ming Dynasty, it can be called "Fu". It happened in the Yuan Dynasty at the latest, or even earlier. Willow Alley: Little Fairy Camp Dongbiying Hutong was originally called Dongbiying, Dongbiying, Little Fairy Hutong. Located in the south of Dashilan area, it is 75 meters long and 3 meters wide.

Dongbiying Hutong and Xibiying Hutong are actually one alley. Rouge Hutong passes through them and divides them into two alleys. Its east entrance is at Shaanxi Lane. During the Republic of China, this alley had the most prostitutes, and in the late Qing Dynasty there were several semi-public brothels. This alley mainly competes for some tourists from Baishun Hutong. Romantic love is always blown away by the rain. The fireworks and willow alley where the rich and powerful used to leave their fragrance have long become historical relics, and the speckled corners are still honestly revealing their secrets. The sun shines through the smoke and dust that has lingered for hundreds of years, and there are endless vicissitudes of life.