In early 1909, France photographer Duterte came to Beijing and captured the unique style of Wangfujing in the late Qing Dynasty, which contrasted sharply with today's prosperity.
In the former Wangfujing Street, camel caravans are not uncommon, and they carry goods slowly northward, constituting a unique scenery. Behind the building of the General Administration of the Jinghan Railway, the black smoke rising from the chimney seems to tell the busyness and changes of that era
In this bustling corner of the market, frozen persimmons reappear, this time at another vendor's stall, accompanied by falling peanuts. It seems that the frozen persimmons in the hands of the sugar gourd vendor before came from here. The camaraderie between the vendors is hidden in this gift
On the T-shaped street where Wangfujing and Dong'anmen meet, street signs stand quietly. The horses stop and the pedestrians seem to be attracted by the photographer's lens, which freezes the prosperity of this moment
The shoe repairer sat next to the shop, skillfully biting the thread with his teeth. At that time, the shopkeepers were always generous to these hard-working craftsmen, allowing them to find a corner outside the shop to earn a living. And the craftsmen are also very measured, and come every morning to clean the front of the door spotlessly
Hidden deep in Goldfish Alley is a simple dwelling. In front of the door, there are scattered wheelbarrow wreckage and all kinds of old things, and the courtyard wall is covered with straw foil, its intention is quite mysterious, leading people to infinite reverie. What kind of story is this family hiding?
At the intersection of Wangfujing Street and East Chang'an Avenue in early 1909, a team of camels transporting supplies slowly marched to the sound of camel bells, and the building of the Jinghan Railway General Administration stood majestically in the background
In 1888, the Empress Dowager Cixi became the first to experience electric light in the Beijing power plant. In 1905, with the establishment of Jingshi Huashang Electric Light Co., Ltd., telephone poles were gradually erected in the streets and alleys of Beijing. At that time, Wangfujing Street, tall telephone poles with street lamps lit up the night of the city
In front of the exquisite cottage on the side of the road, two men talked and laughed. Although the house is small but chic, the small shrine in the corner of the exquisite wooden window and the ancient well are contrasted, and the way the pulley draws water reveals the progress of the times and the ingenuity of life
This shop specializes in reed mats, and the erected reed sweep seems to tell the story of an ancient craft. The reed mat is used in a variety of ways to make beds, build sheds, and build roofs, which are practical and full of traditional charm
On the streets of Wangfujing, a group of young and strong drivers pulled rickshaws and struggled to move forward. They were smiling as they faced the camera that followed. The low-rise bungalows along the way reflect the quaint atmosphere of the city
A middle-aged man with a powerful aura on the street stared at photographer Duterte like a torch. Behind him, the delicatessen is full of aroma, and the tempting advertisements for braised duck, bucket chicken and sausages stand out
Caichang Hutong is located on the side of the bustling Wangfujing, which was once a secret place for the Ming and Qing Dynasty royal dining rooms to treasure delicacies, fruits and vegetables, and the ancient name of the Hutong has a strong historical charm and has been passed down to this day
There are rows of rickshaws at the mouth of the alley next to Wangfujing, and the coachmen are shabby and poor. The stall owners on the side are well-dressed and seem to be more affluent. The contrast between the rich and the poor is stark
In February 1909, men gathered on the sidelines of Da Ruan Fu Hutong, rickshaws were waiting to be used, two dogs were playing, and the houses in the alley were clean and dust-free
A young man in a robe strolls through a narrow alley. The "Social Quit Smoking" sign on a roadside pillar is eye-catching, advocating the elimination of the harmful opium, not the usual paper cigarettes
Wangfujing was once an obscure village in the Liaojin period. However, since Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty established the capital in Beijing, it has gradually prospered here, and the reputation of "T-shaped street" has also begun, recording the changes of history
At the north end of Wangfujing, where the flow of people is full of people, the shops are closely connected and there is an endless stream of pedestrians. A quaint wooden police booth stands quietly on the side of the road, with a unique style
In front of the mansion, a young man wearing a felt hat held a long horn and attracted passers-by with his skill in sharpening scissors and kitchen knives. His presence adds a unique touch of scenery to the ancient streets
During the Ming Dynasty, there were ten palaces on the T-shaped street, which was named Wangfu Street. In 1905, due to the existence of the sweet water well at the south end, it merged with Wangfu Street to achieve the famous Wangfujing today. The blend of history and water has a unique charm
Goldfish Hutong runs through the east and west, from the bustling Dongdan North Street in the east to the lively Wangfujing in the west. The alley is lined with shops, including a traditional shoe store and a pickle garden, as well as two shops with Western-style signs, highlighting the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures
A vendor selling sugar gourds walked to the front of the mansion and was stopped by a man. A man holds a string of sparkling sugar gourds and asks for a quote. The two ancient trees on the other side of the gate show the profound heritage of this house, which is obviously the place of the famous family
The shops with glass doors and windows come into view, and the circular pattern on the front of the store is chic and elegant. The huge blue and white porcelain vase in the window is eye-catching. The man passing by couldn't help but stop and curiously peek into the mystery of the operation of this mysterious shop
An old man on the corner of Wangfujing Street was leisurely carrying a birdcage, and a young man hurried by with a package. Union Hospital's admissions advertisements stand out on the walls, while the "Cloth Shed" sign sways in the wind overhead
The man who had been standing idle at the mouth of the alley appeared in front of the shadow wall of the mansion gate at this moment, and an ancient tree of vicissitudes stood quietly beside him, and the traces of time were undoubtedly visible on his body
Looking outward, Da Ruan Fu Hutong was inlaid with white flags in the Qing Dynasty, and it was called "Da Ran Fu Hutong" during the Qianlong period. It is rumored that there was a mansion surnamed Ruan at the east entrance of the alley, which was renamed "Da Ruan Mansion" during the Xuantong period. This picture captures a man standing against a wall in a corner of the alley