Closely Poles Apart: the Last Bit of the Old Beijing
By Xiao Fuxing  Publisher: SDX Joint Publishing Company
Paper Back
2021-01-01 | ISBN: 978-7-807-68295-0
Rights Manager: Li Peishan
Email: lipeishan@lifehousebooks.com
Introduction

Walking in the city of Beijing, you will pass by "history" inadvertently. Most of the historical sites that people know and are sought after by tourists are scenic spots. But in fact, there is still a little-known history hidden in the plants growing along streets, in ancient buildings, in folk customs, and even between antique books in this Ancient Capital. This book focuses on the easily ignored things and memories of the Old Beijing, and the content is divided into five parts. The first part is written based on scattered things that represent the characteristics of the Old Beijing; the second part focuses on the Hutong; the third part focuses on folk customs; the fourth part focuses on the Xuannan area, including Qianmen; the fifth part talks about Peking Opera, traditional watercolor works, and famous essays of Beijing. Although the Beijing depicted by Xiao is at the exact geographic location as contemporary Beijing, the Old Beijing has gradually drifted away from its historical, memorial, and cultural traditions. The writing of the whole book focuses on historical references and is dotted with the author's life experience as a senior Beijinger and his ink illustrations. It isn't only a three-dimensional urban cultural history but also a humanities travel guide and a "Private Art Portfolio" of the city.