Three Lanes Seven Alleys, 三坊七巷 Fuzhou, China
On an overcast winter morning we explore the Three Lanes and seven Alleys in Fuzhou, China.
Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is short for ten ancient lanes and alleys distributed in the two sides of South Backstreet of Fuzhou City, the three of which westerly are called lanes and the seven easterly are called alleys. From the north to the south successively, there are Yijin Lane, Wenru lane, Guanglu Lane, Yangqiao Alley, Langguan Alley, Anmin Alley, Yellow Alley, Ta Alley, Gong Alley and Jibi Alley.
Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is an important heritage site under the national protection that belongs to the To p 10 Historical and Cultural Street of China. Covering an area of 38.35 hectares and originally built in late Western Jin Dynasty (265-316), it retains the basic street patterns of Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279) with 159 buildings in the styles of Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), of which including 9 national protected historical sites and 8 provincial protected historical sites. Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is regarded as the architecture museum of styles of Ming and Qing dynasties as well as the living fossil of ancient city street system.
After the An Lushan Rebellion in 755 of Tang Dynasty (618-907), many people took refuge in this southern city Fuzhou and gradually this residential block took shape and inhabited by many officials and intellectuals. Today, many former residences of modern celebrities are still well-preserved for visitors. These celebrities include Lin Zexu, Zuo Zongtang, Zheng Xiaoxu, Deng Tuo, Yan Fu, Bing Xin, and Lin Juemin.
reporter: Ilona Kauremszky
video: Stephen Smith
music: Kevin MacLeod:
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