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Liulichang street

History tells us that during the Qing dynasty, there were three principal activities for recreation. There were the opera; the enjoyment of local snack foods - and the one that's become a personal favourite of mine - walking along Liulichang street. It's the most famous antique market in Beijing. Some people think not much has changed here in the past 800 years. We'll take you on a tour, so you can see for yourself.

Looking out a shop window, you realize this is a totally different world - a world under golden eaves. Outside, cars are honking. But inside, history reigns supreme. The contrast of real and unreal permeates the centuries-old street.

Liulichang, first and foremost, is a booksellers street associated with an emperor from the Qing Dynasty.

Today, antique books, thread-bare at the spine, fill the stores. There's no way to know how many times they've been bought and sold.

Only the notes left on these brittle pages remind me that this book probably contains more history than I could imagine.

Every door you encounter is like a gateway to a hidden enclave of art. Here I've found the lost world of painted paper fans.

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