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Baoding West Street, located in the heart of Baoding City, Hebei Province, stretches from Qihengxiang Street to the west to Lianchi Street to the east. Originally built during the Chunhua period of the Song Dynasty, it was completed during the Yuan Dynasty and flourished during the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the best-preserved historical and cultural blocks in China, showcasing the architectural style of the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. Once known as "Zhili's No. 1 Street" and "Northern Famous Street," it stands as a symbol and hallmark of the historic city of Baoding. Baoding West Street stretches approximately 846 meters from east to west, with a width of 7.5 meters on both sides. Its architecture reflects the architectural styles of the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, primarily consisting of cultural and commercial buildings, alongside government offices, schools, ancestral halls, water communities, financial institutions, and traditional residential buildings. The main pavement of Baoding West Street is paved with bluestone, creating a sense of weight and heaviness. Architecturally, Baoding West Street is dominated by two-story buildings with sloping roofs, gray walls, semicircular arched doors and windows, Western-style pilasters, and semicircular window arches. The facades feature decorative moldings and floral ornamentation, and the brick carvings are well-preserved. The gables feature horse-head walls, a traditional Chinese residential style. With its unique architectural style, the buildings on Baoding West Street form a gallery that blends Eastern and Western influences, and North and South. In June 2011, the Governor's Office-West Street Historical and Cultural District, encompassing Baoding West Street, was designated by the Hebei Provincial People's Government as one of the first provincial-level historical and cultural districts.
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Historical and Cultural Districts.
History: Baoding West Street was first constructed during the Chunhua period of the Song Dynasty, completed during the Yuan Dynasty, and flourished during the Qing Dynasty. It served as a strategic military and political hub during the Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Since ancient times, it has been a thoroughfare that "controlled the three passes in the north, reached nine provinces in the south, connected four regions, and dominated the Central Plains."
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During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, the government auctioned off government property, converting many government offices into shops and businesses, further thriving West Street. At the same time, Baoding's architecture was heavily influenced by Western styles, with public buildings being prominent. These distinctive architectural styles have shaped the unique architectural style of West Street today.
The characters "Zhan Yue" (Mountain View) on the back of the gatehouse on West Street in Baoding
On October 6, 1918, 25-year-old Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen, and others arrived in Baoding, exploring a path to save the nation and the people. They stayed at the "First Inn" on West Street. In the 1920s, a number of printing houses, large hotels, restaurants, photo studios, silk shops, jewelry stores, and Beijing-Guangzhou foreign goods stores emerged. The conversion of former horse-drawn brothels into Tongji, Jishan, and Liangyi shopping malls transformed West Street into Baoding's most prosperous street, lining its banks with over 200 shops. In 1926, the Baoding Local Executive Committee of the Communist Party of China was established, with its headquarters at the Xianliang Temple on the north side of the western section of Baoding West Street. The Xiesheng Printing House on the north side of the middle section was where revolutionary martyr Zhang Peizhi printed revolutionary and progressive publications for the Party, known as the "Northern People's Publishing House."
Baoding West Street
In the 1940s, Baoding West Street, East Street, and the surrounding Chenghuang Temple Street and Mahao Market together formed a commercial and cultural street in North China. In the 1990s, Baoding West Street underwent renovations. In October 2021, renovations and upgrades began on Baoding West Street. On November 11, 2022, while safely demolishing illegal structures, the streets were repaired using traditional techniques, preserving the original appearance. Five cultural relics and nine historic buildings were preserved and repaired, and the renovations were completed, allowing for a test drive on the street. Baoding West Street stretches approximately 846 meters from east to west, with an average width of 7.5 meters. Its architecture reflects the styles of the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. It primarily features cultural and commercial buildings, but also houses government offices, schools, ancestral halls, water communities, financial institutions, and traditional residential structures. Famous time-honored businesses such as Diyilou, Wanbaotang, Lerentang, Zhonghua Book Company, Daoxiangcun, and Huaimao Soy Sauce Factory once stood here. Known as the "First Street of Zhili" and a "Famous Street in the North," it is a symbol and hallmark of the historical and cultural city of Baoding. The main pavement of Baoding West Street is paved with bluestone, creating a sense of heaviness. Architecturally, the predominantly two-story buildings feature sloping roofs, gray walls, semicircular arched doors and windows, Western-style pilasters, and semicircular window arches. Facades feature decorative moldings and ornamentation, and well-preserved brick carvings. Gables feature horse-head walls, a traditional Chinese residential style. With its unique architectural style, the buildings on Baoding West Street form a gallery showcasing a blend of Eastern and Western influences, and North and South.