I heard that from Xi’an Railway Station to the Bell Tower, a 20-minute drive will pass through two “cities”.
One is Dacha City, and the other is Luoma City.
Although it was just a joke, it also raised many people's questions. Why are there so many "cities" in Xi'an?
Data Map: The Great Market.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Xi'an, the ancient capital of the thirteen dynasties, has many historical imprints: the bell tower, the drum tower, the city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda...They have been left behind in the passage of time.
Along with these historical traces, there are also the easy-to-understand names of streets and alleys.
As a business card of Xi'an, the place names all over the streets and alleys of Xi'an are like a living historical note, carrying the vicissitudes of history and profound culture of the ancient capital, and also recording the growth process of the city, accompanied by the ancient city.
Cianban Street, Zhuba City, Wuwei Shizi, Fenxiang, Tanshi Street, these characteristic place names also have long historical stories hidden behind them.
The origin of the name "Xi'an"
"Why did Chang'an change its name to Xi'an? It seems that the ancient charm of the name Chang'an is stronger and more in line with the image of this city."
Many tourists and even locals have raised such questions.
In fact, Chang'an has always been there, and now there is still Chang'an District in Xi'an.
Xi'an takes the meaning of Northwest Stability, and the name Xi'an has been in use since the second year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty.
Five flavors: a street famous for medicine
Data map: Wuwei Shizi Street.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Wuweishizi Street is an east-west street, located in the south of the middle section of West Street in Xi'an. The 300-meter street exudes dense smoke and fire, and it also tells the "five flavors" of history and life.
Speaking of "five flavors and what characters", there seems to be a smell of Chinese medicine.
In fact, it was the medicinal material market in Xi'an for a long time, and it was also famous for its "medicine".
In the Yuan Dynasty, Wuwei Shizi Street pharmacies lined up in rows, known as "Medicinal Street".
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, many traditional Chinese medicine shops here prospered, and the five flavors of traditional Chinese medicine were named "sweet, pungent, sour, bitter, and salty", and they are still used today.
Chopping Board Street: The street where chopping boards are sold
Data map: Chopping board street sign.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Xianban Street is located on the north side of the west section of Dongdajie, starting from Dongdajie in the south and extending to Xiyi Road in the north.
In the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Nanxiang. During the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed as a shop selling cutting boards.
Data map: Yisushe Theater.
Photo by Cheng Yue
With the development of the economy and the expansion of the city, Cianban Street has "lost its beauty".
But the existence of Yisu Grand Theater makes it full of artistic atmosphere.
Whenever the stage lights of Yisu Society come on, various famous Qin opera actors appear on the stage. This is still a "treasure place" that makes the hearts of old Xi'an people surging.
Machangzi: A place for feeding horses next to the post
Data map: Machangzi Street.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Machangzi starts from Dongdajie Street in the north and ends at Dongyang City in the south, forming a crossroad with Dongxian Gate and Dongcang Gate.
In the Tang Dynasty, Jingzhao Station was the country's largest official document mail and official brigade escort agency.
From the Tang Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, after more than a thousand years, the name of Jingzhao Station remained unchanged and remained the largest station in western China.
Both sides of this street are the horse feeding places of the post, so it is called Machangzi.
Tanshi Street: A street where coal is piled
Data map: Tanshi Street street sign.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Tanshi Street is located on the north side of the middle section of Dongda Street, north to Xiyi Road.
In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, this street was just an unnamed alley where coal was piled. Later, because of the majority of shops selling coal, salt and alkali, and non-staple food, it was named Tanshi Street.
Data map: Tanshi Street Seafood Plaza.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Around the 1950s, this place has evolved from a "charcoal market" to a retail market for aquatic products, seafood, and dried fruit.
"You can eat charcoal streets, wear mules and horses, and use rehabilitation roads." It is enough to show that charcoal streets play an important role in people's daily life.
The city and the bazaar can’t be distinguished
Data map: Xiyang Snack Street.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Open the map of Xi’an and you will find that the names of Xi’an, Luomashi, Jishiguai, Dacha, Dongximutou, Zhuba, etc. all appear on the map.
In fact, the original meaning of "market" here refers to the place where transactions are concentrated, that is, the market.
The "city" in Xi'an means a town, while the rest refer to bazaars and markets.
As for their respective markets, it depends on the modifiers in front of "market".
Great difference city
Data Map: The Great Market.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Dacha City refers to the area at the intersection of East Street, Jiefang Road and Heping Road in Xi'an City.
During the Song and Jin Dynasties, this was the location of Jingzhaoyi, the largest post station in the northwest.
As the horses and carts pass by, merchants gather, so it is called Dacao City.
To talk about why it is now called the Great Difference City, there are two opinions among the people.
The first argument is because "grass" and "bad" are homophonic;
The second argument is that this place used to be a handyman, sending people to and from the gate of the Qin Palace. If a messenger breaks the law, he must be pulled out from here for execution. This is the allusion to the name of "traveling on business".
Luomashi
Data map: Luomashi.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Luoma City was once a famous commercial center in Xi'an.
Mules and horses were important means of transportation and animal power in ancient times.
Large mule and horse trading markets were set up in major cities and towns in those days, and then markets have gradually formed.
When it comes to Luoma City, the older generation of Xi'an people have special feelings.
At the beginning of reform and opening up, the small and famous Luomashi clothing market witnessed the birth of the first batch of self-employed in Xi'an, and wrote a business legend in the changing times.
As the first open-air clothing market in Xi'an, this is the place where many old Xi'an people made their first pot of gold, carrying the memories of a generation.
Zhuba City
Data map: Street signs in Zhuba City.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Zhuba City is located in the central area of Xi'an. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a concentration of commercial markets here, including Porcelain City, Whip City, Zhuba City, Bookstores, Gold Shops, etc. Among them, bamboo ware was the largest trade, hence the name Zhuba City.
Data map: Zhuba City Street.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Today's Zhuba City still continues the commercial tradition of operating wooden and bamboo wares.
The "most" place names in Xi'an
Walking into the city walls of Xi'an, you will find that the people of Xi'an especially prefer place names with numbers.
"Dongyidao Lane, Dongerdaoxiang, Dongsandaoxiang, Jianguo First Road, Jianguo Second Road, Jianguo Third Road." According to the "Xi'an Road Naming Rules", named by numbers, it is standardized and easy to find and easy to remember. .
Seeing this, many friends feel that the name of Xi'an people is too casual.
In fact, people who know Xi'an a little bit know that in addition to naming streets with numbers, Xi'an people also prefer to name streets after historical allusions. This is inseparable from Xi'an's identity as the ancient capital of the thirteen dynasties.
The most "rich" place: Sajinqiao
Data map: Sajinqiao street sign.
Photo by Cheng Yue
People who are unfamiliar with this place may wonder if gold is being sprinkled here when the name "Sajinqiao" is heard?
Don't get me wrong, there is no gold, no water, and no bridge.
Sajin Bridge is actually a section of street in Huifang, Lianhu District, with a total length of 800 meters.
This place was called Tielu Street in the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties, and was changed to Tielufang in the Ming Dynasty. In the late Qing Dynasty, the northern section of the street lived in the northern section of the street, named Shajiaqiao, which was later changed to Sajinqiao.
Data map: Sajinqiao Snack Street.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Today's Sajin Bridge is also one of the most urban fireworks in Xi'an.
The writer Jia Pingwa once described the Xicang Bazaar in Sajinqiao in "Abandoned Capital": "It is a huge private trading market, mainly for domestic animals, rare birds, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. It also includes utensils and feed supplements. The crowds of men, women, children, and idlers flock to the venue, cradles with satchels, and households are restricted to wear, making the hundreds of meters-long venue full of people, bustling, and bustling."
The most "learning spirit" alley: large and small learning alleys
Data map: Daxuexiang.
Photo by Cheng Yue
The history of the Big and Small Learning Alleys can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.
At that time, Chang'an was the capital city and the center of world economic and cultural exchanges. It was a true "international model", and most foreigners who came to the Tang Dynasty to study, do business, and become officials gathered here.
It is said that many foreigners who come to Chang'an learn Chinese and etiquette in Daxuexiang, hence the name.
Data map: Daxuexiang.
Photo by Cheng Yue
Today, Da Xue Alley is lined with merchants, everything from food to handicrafts.
The residents played chess and chatted in the alley, which was very lively.
Although it's not like the bustling and noisy Sanjinqiao here, it has a unique scent of fireworks.
The most "mysterious" alley: Fanxiang
Data map: Fenxiang street sign.
Photo by Cheng Yue
There are different opinions about the name of Fenxiang. According to legend, it was the famous fireworks willow alley in Chang'an during the heyday of Tang Dynasty.
However, some people think that the "powder" here is not "rouge gouache", but the "powder" used as food. It is named after the mills and grain shops that flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Various speculations are this. The short streets add a bit of mystery.
Sign plates and inscriptions were erected on the streets and alleys, and antique archways were built, and the historical allusions behind them were placed on them, showing the unique cultural charm of the ancient city of Xi’an.
It not only makes it easier for foreign tourists to understand the ancient history and culture of Xi'an, but also adds more cultural confidence to the native Xi'an people, making them more enthusiastic about this vibrant city with ancient history.
Author: Zhang Yuan Yang Yingqi Shi Furong