China News Service, Jilin, February 4th: "Generation Z" has become a frequent visitor and Jilin's century-old Manchu gathering is "younger"
China News Service reporter Cang Yan Shi Hongyu
Wula Street Town in Jilin City has a long history. In front of the Kuifu Gate with gray walls and red doors, 27-year-old Wang Shuang kept taking photos. Just a few steps away from this Qing Dynasty building more than a hundred years ago is the traditional Manchu market, where the lively shouts of hawkers echoed through the porch of Kuifu.
Wang Shuang is a native of Jilin City and a frequent visitor to the market. In addition to taking photos, eating Ula hot pot and stocking up on Manchu snacks are essential parts of his immersive market visit.
Jilin City in Jilin Province is one of the birthplaces of the Manchu people and is rich in products. The local Wula Street Manchu Town was once the location of the Wula Festival. It was an official office set up in the Qing Dynasty to collect and transport various specialties for the royal family.
Jilin City is rich in Manchu customs. (File photo) Photo courtesy of Jilin Manchu Museum
The traditional Manchu market here has a history of hundreds of years. Whenever a market is held, the streets are crowded with people, and some shops still hang out banners in the ancient style. The Manchu characters on them mean "auspicious".
In recent years, merchants in the market have discovered that more and more young people like Wang Shuang come here specifically to taste the "old taste". Their arrival makes this century-old collection more "young" and "fashionable".
As the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon approaches, the markets are overwhelmed with the dazzling array of New Year goods. 53-year-old Zhang Zhidong mainly sells Manchu food. Every day before dawn, he and his wife set up a stall and heat up the charcoal fire. Steaming bean buns and glass leaf pancakes are popular.
Early every morning, Zhang Zhidong and his wife would set up a stall to sell Manchu specialties. Photo by Cang Yan
In front of his stall, there were many young people like Wang Shuang, holding their mobile phones to record the freshly cooked Manchu specialties. Some even held a live broadcast and invited fans to "gather in the cloud."
Zhang Zhidong has long been accustomed to this, and sometimes he will do some actions to cooperate with young people's shooting. He thinks it is a good thing that there are more and more young people in the market. “New faces bring a new atmosphere to the traditional market.”
During the Chinese New Year this year, Wang Shuang ordered dozens of kilograms of glass leaf cakes in advance. The wrapped eucalyptus leaves were steamed and fragrant. The "earth-flavored tools" such as wicker baskets and dustpans woven by roadside craftsmen are quite Manchu-style. Wang Shuang will buy them as home decorations when he sees them.
Wang Shuang (first from right) selects New Year’s goods at the market. Photo by Cang Yan
Guo Zhuang, 25, is from Changchun. He told reporters that he came here to visit the market because he liked the cultural flavor here.
In order to take a good picture of the Manchu architecture under the sun, Guo Zhuang walked around the courtyard wall several times to choose the best viewing angle. Seeing some old-fashioned tobacco bags and tobacco leaves for sale at some stalls, he bought them as collections.
Pi Fusheng, a literature and history researcher of the Jilin CPPCC, said that the Wula Street Market has a long history. At first, surrounding residents exchanged goods for goods. By the Qing Dynasty, business flourished, and the number of craftsmen and small traders grew to more than 200.
"Such 'old taste' is sought after by 'Generation Z' and will keep traditional markets fresh for a long time," Pi Fusheng said.
The market is particularly lively as the Spring Festival approaches. Wang Shuang uploaded the video he shot to the short video platform, and also gave the work a nice name - Traveling through the Qing Dynasty to visit the collection. (over)