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Xisi () literally, the "Western Four" or the "Western Quadrangle", is the name of an intersection and surrounding neighborhood in
"“东单”“西单”“东四”“西四” 名称的来历"
2009-04-15 The sign gates at Xisi were removed in 1950s but the location name remains. Today, the Xisi Station on Line 4 of the
Xisi () literally, the "Western Four" or the "Western Quadrangle", is the name of an intersection and surrounding neighborhood in Xicheng District
Xicheng District () is a district of Beijing. Xicheng District spans , covering the western half of the old city (largely inside the 2nd Ring Road - the eastern half is Dongcheng District, Beijing, Dongcheng District), and has 706,691 inhabitant ...
, Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. Xisi, at the intersection of what is now Xisi Avenue and Fuchengmen Inner Avenue, dates to the Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fifth ...
and was named after the four ''paifang
A ''paifang'', also known as a ''pailou'', is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure. Evolved from the Indian subcontinent's ''torana'' through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has developed many styles ...
s'', Chinese sign gates, that marked the location. The intersection was known as the Western Four Sign Gates or "Western Four" for short. To the east, in Dongcheng District, there was another intersection with four sign gates called ''Dongsi'' or the Eastern Four.(Chinese"“东单”“西单”“东四”“西四” 名称的来历"
2009-04-15 The sign gates at Xisi were removed in 1950s but the location name remains. Today, the Xisi Station on Line 4 of the
Beijing Subway
The Beijing Subway is the rapid transit system of Beijing Municipality that consists of 25 lines including 20 rapid transit lines, two airport rail links, one maglev line and 2 light rail lines, and 463 stations. The rail network extends acro ...
is located underneath the intersection.
See also
*Dongsi Subdistrict, Beijing
Dongsi (,lit. "Eastern Four" or "Eastern Quadrangle") is the name of an intersection and surrounding neighborhood in Dongcheng District, Beijing. Dongsi, at the intersection of what is now Dongsi Avenues North, South and West and Chaoyangmen In ...
* Xidan
Xidan (Chinese: 西 单; Pinyin: Xīdān) is a major traditional commercial area in Beijing, China. It is located in the Xicheng District.
The Xidan commercial district incorporates the Xidan Culture Square, North Xidan Street, as well as many ...
* Dongdan
References