In Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, there is a well-preserved ancient granary of Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is called "the first granary in the world". The reason why it is called "the best in the world" is not because of its large reserves, but because this granary is not an ordinary granary, but an official warehouse specially reserved for royal grain and rice in Kyoto during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The granary originated in North Taicang in Yuan Dynasty. It was built in the 7th year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1409) and has a history of more than 600 years. At present, there are still nine well-preserved granaries, the only one in China and the largest and best-preserved ancient granary in Beijing.

Why did the royal official warehouse in ancient Beijing be built here? This is also for the convenience of transportation. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is a great ancient water conservancy project in the history of China, starting from Hangzhou in the south and reaching Beijing in the north. It flows through Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Hebei provinces as well as Tianjin and Beijing. Connecting Qiantang River, Yangtze River, Huaihe River, Yellow River and Haihe River; Total length 1747 km; The waterway route of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has played an important role in the economic traffic and cultural communication between the north and the south of China.

This imperial granary named "Nanxincang" in the Ming and Qing Dynasties is located at the end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Therefore, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the royal family set up official grain reserves for their own consumption at the present Dongsi time.

Located in Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, it was the "No.1 granary in the world" during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Stone carving mural former royal granary former site

The Grand Canal Nanxincang was once the end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

From Ming Dynasty 1409 to now, the imperial granary has a history of more than 600 years.

But the warehouse is well preserved, and there are still nine grain depots in the past.

Now a cultural food street is being built here on the original basis.

Yan Tianxia

The buildings here are really well preserved.

In order to protect cultural relics, smoking is prohibited.

Introduction of Royal Granary

The beams in the granary are still the wooden hoes of the past.

Used to be a salt bank.

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