New home for Tianqiao life

Tianqiao in downtown Beijing was once a haven for folk arts and small businesses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, one could find pet markets and see street performances of cross-talk shows and acrobatics.

Tianqiao continues to be a business district and while all the activities that once gave it its unique life have disappeared, they have found a new hub in eastern Beijing.

The Huasheng Tianqiao Folklore Cultural Garden, located in the Gaobeidian area, 8 km to the east of Tian'anmen Square, was recently thrown open to the public.