Biji Alley

Biji Alley

Biji Alley is a cultural tourism attraction.

Biji Alley in Changzhou is located to the west of the city, adjacent to the canal, and was the site of the ancient Pilin Post. It was formerly known as "Flower Market Street."

Since ancient times, Changzhou has been famous for making combs and bamboo hairbrushes, earning the reputations of "imperial combs and renowned brushes" and "Changzhou combs and brushes are the best under heaven." The entire street was once home to families who made a living crafting these items. When Emperor Qianlong visited the south, he disembarked at Pilin Post near this area and entered the city. Seeing that the street was lined with workshops and shops producing and selling combs and brushes, he bestowed upon the place the name "Biji Alley" (Brush and Comb Alley).

In modern times, Changzhou’s bamboo hairbrushes and combs won a silver award at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and a gold award at the exposition in Philadelphia. In the American film "Star Struck," the female lead wore a Changzhou comb as a brooch, and former Indonesian President Sukarno took two Changzhou bamboo hairbrushes back as souvenirs after his visit to China. The Northern Song Dynasty literary giant Su Dongpo once said, “Comb your hair over a hundred strokes, then rest your loosened hair and sleep soundly until morning.”

At the entrance of Biji Alley stands a tall memorial archway bearing three large red characters: "Da Matou" (The Great Wharf). As the name suggests, this was the location of the great wharf. During the Ming Dynasty, the Pilin Post was situated in this alley, serving as a stopover for couriers delivering official documents and for officials traveling through the area to dock their boats for rest or to change horses and stay overnight. By the Qing Dynasty, the Pilin Post was renamed Huanghua Pavilion, and at the time, it was the second-largest post station in southern China, after only Jinling Post. Next to the Great Wharf is Huanghua Pavilion, which was the highest-ranking of the three official welcoming pavilions along the Grand Canal in the ancient urban area of Changzhou.

Address: Biji Alley, Zhonglou District, Changzhou City

Type: Featured Neighborhood

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No admission fee.