Gongjian Hutong (恭俭胡同)

According to Hutong in West District Beijing, “the south-north trending Gongjian Hutong is located in the southeast of Shichahai from Jingshan Backstreet to Di’ anmen West Avenue. The 4 meters wide and 530 meters long alley was the former place of the prison for inner court officials in the Ming Dynasty. It was renamed Neiguanjian (prison for inner court officials) Hutong in the early Qing Dynasty, and then Neigongjian Hutong in the late Guangxu Period. After 1911, the name of this Hutong was changed into Gongjian, which means respect and thrift in Chinese language and sounds similar with the previous names.”
There is an ice storehouse in 5 Alley, Gongjian Hutong. This relic of the Ming and Qing Dynasty had been closed for years and is now a particularly intriguing place to the visitors. Some people have been running a restaurant in the ice storehouse in recent years. It has been a highly attractive place by virtue of the location, which is close to the royal kitchen, and the reputation of Gongjian Ice Storehouse, appealing the travel enthusiasts to learn more about the vault while savoring the food.