Changdian Temple Fair, sugar-coated haws, temple fair

Changdian Temple Fair

Changdian was located on the South Xinhua Road. In Liao Dynasty, this was a remote and desolate village named as Haiwang Village. In Yongle Period of Ming Dynasty, a glazed tile kiln—Liulichang in Chinese, was set up here to fire multi-color glazed tiles for the new palace. After the outer city was built in the 32nd year of Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty (1553), Changdian thrived. Haiwang Village was forgotten, replaced with the name of Liulichang Changdian, also being called Liulichang or Changdian. As the business developed here, the God Lv Temple Fair locating at the northeast of Changdian appeared and later developed into Changdian Temple Fair. In Qing Dynasty, it became one of the most famous temple fairs. Changdian Temple Fair, also named as “Guangchangdian” was usually held from the 1st to the 15th day in the 1st lunar month of each year. In this period, peddleries set up booths selling paintings, calligraphies, antiques, daily necessities, children’s toys, food and fruits, whatever. In addition, there were acrobatics and dramas, as well as various shows. Gongs and drums were sound everywhere, customers surged on the fair. After the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, former court officials, imperial clans, and their offspring sold their collected treasures to the antique businessmen. Warlords, bureaucrats, politicians and enterprise owners often visited the antique shops. Some foreigners were particularly interested in Chinese curios and antiques. Therefore, antiques prevailed on Changdian Temple Fair. Until 1960s, Changdian held temple fair each year. The 1963 Temple Fair was the biggest one extending from the bridge over the moat outside Hepingmen to the cross of Hufang Bridge, more than 750 booths were set up along the 1500m roads, which attracted more than 4,000,000 visitors. In 1964, the Changdian Temple Fair suspended for the sake of traffic factor. In 2001, the Xuanwu District Government resumed the Changdian Temple Fair.

Changdian Lamp Fair

In Ming Dynasty, lamp fair was held around East Huamen from the 1st to the 17th day of the 1st lunar month each year. At the beginning of Qing Dynasty, the lamp fair was moved in front of the glazed tile kiln. Canopy was set up and lamps were hung, the lamp fair prevailed at the time. Various shows were exhibited; gongs and drums deafened surging visitors. Booths selling books, paintings and handwritings, antiques, toys and foods rowed up on the fair. The Lamp Fair was named by Changdian Lamp Fair for it neighbored Changdian at the western end of the East Liulichang Road, this was the beginning of Changdian Fair. Changdian was also called as Guangchang.

In 1917, when Qian Nengxun worked as the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, he proposed to establish Haiwang Village Park on the clearing in front of the kiln, inside which stones were piled up into a hill, willows, roses and blue berries were planted, canopies were set up and seats were arranged. Since the establishment of the park, half of the Village God Temple was almost removed. The Park reached the west river bank to the north, and linked with the South Xinhua Road to the south, which made it the central point of Liulichang Road. The north building in the park was the Bureau of Arts & Crafts, later being changed as the Commodity Exhibition Hall of the Committee of Improvement of Industry & Commerce. In the first month of each lunar year, the pine branch Pailou with the tablet inscribed with “Benefit Industry and Commerce” would be set up in front of the Exhibition Hall, the Exhibition Hall was opened for three days for public visit. On both sides inside the gate, canopy was set up, artificial flowers and foods were displayed. On the clearing, antiques and jade articles, balloons, gold fishes and kites were sold. Outside the Park, in the east stood booths of old books. Beside the South Xinhua Road were the book booths. Along the God Lv Temple outside the Park (east), there were snack food and toy booths. Around the Village God Temple to the west of the Park, there were old book, paintings and handwritings booths.