Dazhalan Street, which is about only 300 meters long, is one of the biggest shopping streets in Beijing; it has one of the most important silk shops called Ruifengxian, an old shop with a marble gate and an unusual interior as well as a fountain surrounded by balustrades. There is also the best known pharmacist for traditional Chinese medicine, the Tongren-tan pharmacy. It also has a big theatre and a cinema. This street and the streets around it have a long history as an entertainment centre; five of the biggest Beijing opera houses used to be here. If one walks from Dazhalan Street south-westwards towards Hufangqiao, one finds the Qianmen Hotel only a few houses down (just over a mile from Dazhalan Street). Towards the west through the hutongs, the alleys of Beijing's old quarter, one can get to Liulichang Street, which is full of antique shops, in ten minutes.
You may have problems going by taxi into Qianmen Street as far as the crossing of Dazhalan Street, because taxis are not permitted to stop here. It is best to stop at Qianmen Gate and walk, or take a taxi to Liulichang and walk from there to Dazhalan Street and Qianmen Street. Qianmen Hotel is not far from there. If you are taking the underground, get off at Qianmen stop.
Finally, you can find the theatre shop which used to be on Qianmen Street near Xinqiao Hotel and Chongwenmen Hotel. Here you can get both antiques and old theatre costumes and relics.
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