Yandai Xiejie

Yandai Xiejie, located in the Gulou(Drum Tower) area, is one of Beijing‘s oldest streets. The 300-meter street runs northeast to southwest. In the northeast, it is connected to Di‘anmenwai Dajie; in the southwest, Yinding Bridge.

Originally in Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), this street was called the Skewed Drum Tower Street. At that time, local residents were addicted smoking opium. The increasing demand of pipes encouraged the opening of many pipe shops on the street. The shops had similar symbols - a wooden smoke pipe with a black pipe stem and a golden pipe bowl. Customers are often impressed by the vivid symbols standing in front of these pipe shops. The street became famous for its pipe business, and people began to know it as "the Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street", which was passed down to today.