Eight hutongs in Beijing, such as Wang Guangfu Xie Street, are famous fireworks in Beijing. In the twenty-first year of the Qianlong Dynasty (1756) of the Qing Dynasty, brothels were forbidden to operate brothels in the inner city area; the brothels in the inner city were moved to the Dashilar (outside the front gate) next to the inner city. Since then, the hustle and bustle of the Dashilar area has become a self-contained eating, drinking and entertainment.
In the late Qing Dynasty, in order to manage and tax, the imperial court divided the brothel into first to fourth classes; there was a plaque on the door of the first-class brothel, and the women who sold spring had their own rooms; the traditional Chinese mahogany furniture was placed in the early days, and later became a copper-frame Simmons soft bed. Each woman has a personal nanny who serves them.
On August 14, 1900 (the 26th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty), the Eight-Nation Alliance occupied Beijing. Due to the need to meet the demand for sex, the Qing court also had to increase taxes (paying gengzi indemnities), which caused the prostitution industry in the capital to swell suddenly. The area around the Bada Hutong has developed on a considerable scale.
Yi Li (1838-1917) was a major courtier of the late Qing Dynasty, and after the Eight-Nation Alliance occupied the capital, it did not harass his royal palace. Yi Li and Li Hongzhang (designated by Empress Dowager Cixi) represented the Qing court in negotiations with the Eight-Nation Alliance. The Qingwang Mansion where Yi Xi lived and the Xianliang Temple where Li Hongzhang lived were under the jurisdiction of the Qing court.
During the negotiations, the Eight-Power Coalition explicitly forbade soldiers from harassing the Qingwang Mansion and the Xianliang Temple. In October 1900, Germany and Britain reached an agreement to keep the territory unchanged and the ports open; it was approved by the great powers. Empress Dowager Cixi issued an edict in the name of the Guangxu Emperor; the responsibility was passed on to the ministers. Because Empress Dowager Cixi was able to ensure their interests in China, she was not listed as a target for punishment.
【Beijing Street Scene】 As a condition of peace, the chancellor Yuxian and others were executed by the imperial court; Wang Zaiyi of Duanjun and others were exiled to Xinjiang. After the signing of the Treaty of Xinugu, all the troops except for the troops protecting the embassy area (Dongjiaomin Lane) were evacuated from Beijing. On January 7, 1902 (the 28th year of guangxu in the Qing Dynasty), Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor returned to Beijing.
On June 20, 1900 (the 26th year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty), Klinder (German minister) was killed in Beijing, causing a world uproar. Kaiser Wilhelm II immediately formed an expeditionary force of more than 20,000 men; and sent a note to the nations to take joint action. Wadesi (German) was elected by various countries as the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces invading China.
After the Eight-Power Coalition occupied the capital, the concessionary army openly robbed for three days; then implemented a divisional occupation. The Eight-Nation Alliance burned down Prince Duan's Mansion and Prince Zhuang's Mansion, and more than 1,700 people from Prince Zhuang's Mansion (Taipingcang Hutong in the West Fourth North) were buried in the fire. A large number of innocent civilians were indiscriminately killed by the Eight-Power Coalition.
【Beijing Street Scene】Among the Eight-Power Alliance, the German and Russian armies were the most barbaric and fierce, killing many people without asking questions. After that, Tsarist Russia rejected other powers, sent separate troops, and invaded northeast China with arms and imposed military occupation. Old Photographs of Beijing, 1900-1901. Photo credits: Wolfgang Victrex