潘樓東街巷

East of Panlou was a crossroads called Tushizi, also known as the Bamboo-Pole Market. Farther east, at another crossroads, stood the Congxing Guojiao tea house. At every fifth watch lamps were lit and people traded clothing, pictures, flower garlands, neckbands and similar goods. At dawn the market dispersed; it was known as the “Ghost Market.”

Farther east, on the north side of the street, stood Zhao Shiwan’s residence; on the south were the Zhongshan principal wine house and East and West Yulin lanes. To the north stood the residence of Empress Zheng. Turning east and then north, beside the wall, was the shrine of General Shan, said here to be the tomb of Shan Xiongxin. A jujube tree grew above it; local tradition said it had sprouted from his jujube-wood lance, and the lane was therefore called Zaozhongzi Lane. Farther east was Old Caomen Street. Beishanzi Tea House contained an “Immortal Cave” and “Immortal Bridge,” and men and women often went there at night to drink tea. Nearby were Li Shengcai’s children’s-medicine shop and Qiu Fangyu’s medicine shop.

Outside Old Caomen stood the wazi at Zhu Family Bridge. Below the bridge were the South and North Slanting Streets, with a Mount Tai temple inside and houses of sex work on both streets. The bridgehead was densely inhabited and commercially active, rivaling the southern part of the prefectural city. Farther east were Niuxing Street, the Liu family medicine shop at Xiama, the Kanniulou wine house, and more houses of sex work, extending all the way to the new city wall. South from Tushizi were the Tiexielou wine house, Huangjianyuan Street, and the Zheng family oil-cake shop at Desheng Bridge, where more than twenty ovens were in operation. Continuing south led to Taimiao Street and Gaoyang Zhengdian, where the night market was especially busy.

North from Tushizi was Maxing Street, crowded with residents and activity. The first crossroads was called Liao’er Market. To the east lay East Ji’er Lane and to the west West Ji’er Lane, both occupied by houses of sex work. Nearer the northern street was Yanglou Street; to the east stood Zhuanglou, later renamed Helelou, beneath which was the horse market. Farther north stood Rendian, later renamed Xinlelou, opposite the Ma Dang family soup shop.