Kuan Zhai Alley, also called Wide and Narrow Alley, located in the western center part of Chengdu city. It is said to be a must visit place if you come here. Why? Many visitor come here may only see its hustle and bustle, all kinds of shops and restaurants, what’s the differences between other commercial blocks and itself? We hope to help you dig out the reason for you coming here, because when you visit China, visit Sichuan, visit Chengdu, it is time for us to offer you different experiences of the place, her deep value that may benefit you and impress you for your memory.
History
In the 57th year of the Kangxi reign (1718 AD), after crushed the Zhunge’er Rebellion, General Nian Gengyao built the Mancheng on the site of the ancient Shaocheng in Chengdu city, and settled the officers and soldiers in the army of Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners.
During the Qing Dynasty, only the members of Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners lived in Mancheng or Mancheng. Under strict regulations, all Manchu and Mongolian officers and soldiers were not allowed to leave Mancheng without permission, or engaged in commercial transactions. Their living rely on the rewards from annual spring and autumn martial arts competition held in Shaocheng Park nearby.
At that time, officials lived in Kuan Alley, ordinary soldiers lived in Zhai Alley, with strict ranks. After the decline of the Qing Dynasty, Mancheng was no longer a restricted area, so people could freely enter and exit. Some merchants from other regions took the opportunity to open pawnshops near Mancheng and purchase a large amount of Manchu people’s property. Unlike the begining, then officials, merchants,or other kinds of people all live together throughout Mancheng.
During the Qing Dynasty, Kuan Alley was called Xingren Hutong, Zhai Alley was called Taiping Hutong, and Jing Alley was called Ruyi Hutong or Mingde Hutong. When it came to era of Republic of China, government changed the name “Hutong” to “Alley”, thus their names became Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley.
After Qing Dynasty end its reign in Chengdu, the wall of Mancheng was tore down. Some high-ranking officials and nobles came here to build mansions and residences, like Yu Youren, Tian Songyao, Li Jiayu, Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui, etc. Chiang Kai shek also visited here, allowing these ancient buildings to be preserved.
Now, after professional renovations, Kuanzhai Alley is presented with its authentic architectures and tastes. Here you can see the historical traces in its buildings, as well as the interaction triggered by modern commerce, art, and history, and feel its new vitality.
Stories of these Buildings
Small Western-style Villa
At first, it was a French clinic opened by a French preacher, which should be the earliest French clinic in Chengdu. In the 1930s, a military officer surnamed Wang bought this small western-style building and brought his wife to live happily in it. Two or three years later, he joined the Sichuan army to the front line to resist Japan but never returned. His wife, on the other hand, waited in this small mansion until her death. As a result, the mansion was known as the “holy land of love” in Kuanzhai Alley, attracting many young people to take photos and wedding photos here, hoping to continue the loyalty of love in the story.
Brick cultural wall
Located in Jingxiangzi, the cultural wall of “Bricks” is 400 meters long. Through creative work, old bricks with different memories are built into historical and cultural fragments of Chengdu, such as platforms, cities, walls, roads, monuments, and doors,etc. The wall tells stories like “Baodun Legacy City, Jinsha Bamboo Mud” ,”Yangzi Adobe, City Wall of Qin Dynasty”, “Han Brick Legacy, Out Wall of Tang Dynasty” “Ancient Song Brick Road, Ruins of Ming Dynasty”. It showcases the vicissitudes of Chengdu’s history.
Tie Horse Stone
The Tie Horse Stone is located on the old wall of Gate 32 of narrow alley, about 1.2 meters above the ground. It has been weathered and mottled, and is one of the only three remaining tie horse stone in Kuanzhai Alley. A hundred years ago, this area was the living place of the Northern Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners and their families, they have a habit of riding horses for travel. The Tie Horse Stone is a symbolic representation of northern culture in western Sichuan.
Kailu House
Kailu house is located at No. 11 Kuanxiangzi. Its entrance is one of the most iconic entrances in Kuanzhai Alley. The courtyard gate is built with specially made blue bricks to form an arched gate with a curved protrusion. A traditional Chinese stone plaque is embedded above the doorway, and the plaque is engraved with “Kailu” in large seal script. The writing style of the two characters is innovative, which goes against the rule of Chinese people reading characters from right to left at that time. The elliptical pattern built above the stone plaque represents the high hanging “Evil Avoidance Mirror”, aimed at repelling various demons and ensuring the safety of the family forever.
Kuanzhai Alley is the last remaining relic of the millennium old urban design and century old authentic architecture of ancient Chengdu, and it is also an only copy of the northern China hutong culture and architectural style in south area.
How to play in Kuanzhai Alley?
Time magazine once evaluated Chengdu as China’s China, So Kuanzhai Alley can be considered as the Chengdu’ Chengdu. Kuanzhai Alley not only carries the visible history of Chengdu, but also expresses the life attitude of Chengdu people, reflecting their understanding and expression of leisure life. The courtyards on both sides of the alley, big and small, are surrounded by walls on three sides. In the past, neighbors used to place bamboo chairs at the entrance of the alley, chatting casually, or put up a table of mahjong under the wall, sipping tea and sitting on a stone bench under the tree, watching the people coming and going in the alley. Although become a commercial district, it still retains the scene of tea tasting and leisure life in the courtyard of Chengdu style. If you come to Kuanzhai Alley, why not find a tea house and try a bowl of special covered tea, enjoy yourself as a real Chengdu local…
Of course, there are plenty of delicate art works, amusement activities you can visit and experience, and plenty of local snacks and foods you can taste too…follow us, we will help you discover your own Kuanzhai alley….
For more information and services, please contact us by pandawego@foxmail.com, we will be glad to assist your travel in Chengdu or Sichuan anytime.
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