Puli Street

Puli Street

A street name in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, located within the jurisdiction of the city center district. According to the *Lisheng* (歷乘), a historical text from the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, it is recorded: “The Sanyuan Temple is located at one site at Ganshi Bridge and another at Chaijia Lane.” This indicates that during the Ming Dynasty, Puli Street was still considered a suburban area of Jinan. Due to its proximity to the urban center, it was a firewood market. As the firewood market developed, people gradually began building houses here, forming a lane, which was named “Chaijia Lane” (Firewood Family Lane). During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1861), a fortified wall was built, blocking the passage between Chaijia Lane and Huixian Bridge. In the 30th year of the Guangxu era (1904), Jinan was opened as a treaty port. To facilitate transportation between the commercial port area and the old city, in the 32nd year of the Guangxu era (1906), a new gate called Puli Gate was opened between the original western fortress walls’ Yongsui Gate (Ganshi Bridge Gate) and Yongzhen Gate (Yingxian Bridge Gate). Chaijia Lane was widened and renamed Puli Avenue. When the street first opened, it was 400 meters long and 7 meters wide. In its early days, Puli Avenue was bustling with businesses, with shops densely lined up. Pharmaceutical businesses included “Houde Hall,” “Zanyu Hall West Branch,” “Hongji Medicine Warehouse,” and “Datong Western Pharmacy.” General merchandise shops included “Dasheng Grocery Store,” “Fushengyong Grocery Store,” “Sanyuan Candle Shop,” “Zhixianglou Department Store,” “Fuyihuo Linen Shop,” and “Liaolongchang Porcelain Store.” Silk and cloth shops included “Hongxiangyong Cloth Store,” “Qianxiangyi Silk and Satin Shop,” and “Yixing Public Cloth Shop.” Shoe and hat shops included “Dehua New Branch,” “Renchang,” “Chengxing,” “Jichangtong Branch,” “Fushun West,” “Yongtai,” “Qianhengji,” “Puhua,” “Tiancheng East,” and “Yuankang.” There was also a money exchange shop called “Yuankang.” In addition to commercial enterprises, many government offices, organizations, and public service institutions were also located on Puli Avenue. For example, in 1928, the Xiguan Commercial Office Police Substation was established there. During the 1930s and 1940s, the street was rich in cultural and entertainment activities. During holidays, stilt-walking, yangge dancing, storytelling, opera performances, and acrobatics created a lively atmosphere. The architecture of Puli Street has distinctive features. Most shops were two-story buildings along the street, featuring arcades, arched windows, and doors. The style largely blended Chinese and Western architectural elements. In 2002, the municipal government planned to transform the approximately 60-acre triangular area south of Puli Street into a multifunctional ecological square, tentatively named “Puli Square.”