Sudden Turn Back: Interesting Stories of Beijing's Streets, Alleys, and Hutongs

Author: Zhang Shuxin et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Beijing has many streets, lanes, and hutongs. As the saying goes, "Large hutongs number three hundred and sixty, while small ones are as numerous as cowhairs." Many people live in the hutongs, with three hundred and sixty trades, each having people residing in the capital. Beijing is the imperial capital, and there are even more than three hundred and sixty trades, including the imperial family, princes, ministers, eunuchs, maids, and their relatives, aunts, and cousins. With more hutongs and more residents, the interesting stories and anecdotes between people and hutongs naturally abound. Beijing is also a city with a tradition of patriotism. In addition to ancient and modern patriots, there are also contemporary ones. Even more surprising is that Marx actually included one of our monetary reformers in his Capital: "Wang Maoyin, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue during the Qing Dynasty, submitted a memorial to the emperor, advocating that imperial notes and treasure bonds should be made into redeemable paper currency." This was an extraordinary suggestion at the time.