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Shuyuanmen Gate is located south of the Bell Tower in Xi’an which is about 570 meters long and about 10 meters wide. It is a bluestone-paved street situated on the eastern side of the South Gate, and is lined by ancient architectures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties on both sides.

Standing at the street entrance, you can notice a decorated archway standing there with 3 golden Chinese characters “Shu Yuan Men” carved on the top, and a striking couplet is engraved on each site of the archway, reading “The Stele Forest Contains National Treasures" and "The Academy Gestates Big Talents.” 

The name of Shuyuanmen means academy gate in English and it was derived from Guanzhong Shuyuan (central Shaanxi academy)  which was established here inside the South Gate in the Ming Dynasty . 

Guanzhong Shuayuan was one of the leading academies in ancient China and the highest institution of Shaanxi Province in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. However, in 1906, It was occupied by Shaanxi Provincial Normal School and it's now where one campus of the Xi’an University is located.

 In 1990, Beilin government launched large-scale reconstruction work on the shabby street. Soon in the following year, the old street took on a new look and Shuyuanmen Gate came into being.

 Walking into the street, you can see the 2-storey stores in ancient style along both sides and smell the aroma of Chinese ink. That is because shops and stores here mostly sell four treasures of Chinese stationery including writing brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone for calligraphy and painting.

The earliest commodity sold there is said to be rubbings which gained popularity quickly at that time. Now, it has about 200 shops and 100 stalls and are flourished with a variety of cultural products. Other commodities include rubbings from tablet inscriptions, paintings and calligraphic works by celebrities, and books with ancient seals. For example, you can find here paintings by Liu Wenxi, a Xi'an artist who drew the images on the 100 banknote.

 The market also has a wonderful collection of oriental paintings which make a colorful display of the traditional painting styles. Every year many celebrated calligraphers and painters meet there with their outstanding calligraphic and painting works on display.

If you are lucky enough, you will see the old folk artist giving a traditional Chinese painting or calligraphy presentation in front of the site of Guanzhong Shuyuan. Attracted by such fascinating work, perhaps you cannot help but buy one.

Therefore, being famous for its collection of calligraphy, Shuyuanmen Gate is in fact known as the "Calligraphy Street".

 Besides, Shuyuanmen Gate is also an authentic destination for hand crafted products. In those antique shops, you will find some authentic crafts made by hand such as leather shadow puppet，paper cuttings , and Shehuo ladle mask , which are typical folk handcrafts of Shaanxi Province. You can always try bargaining for the one you want.

Among these handcrafts, leather shadow puppet are made of animal skin and were used for shadow play shows in ancient times . The technique of making it is so difficult that now fewer and fewer of them are for sale, so it is a good choice to buy a Shadow play figure to bring home as a souvenir or send it to friends and the price varies from 10 yuan to hundreds.

Shehuo ladle mask is a work of art painted on the wooden ladle which is a utensil used to scoop water or grain in ancient China. The forefathers painted gods or amulets on the ladles to prevent their livestock from the injury of natural pests or disease and ensure their safe and peaceful life. Therefore, Shehuo ladle mask represent the beautiful wishes for peaceful and happy life and thus become quite popular with the visitors of Shuyuanmen Gate.

 Stalls outside the 2-storey stores are equally attractive. Along the street, Xun (an ancient egg-shaped wind instrument with eight holes) and jade articles are commonly seen. Walking in the area of Shuyuanmen Gate, you may hear the sounds of the Xun and the bamboo flute played by storekeepers now and again to drum up trade, which is not quite a melody but more the symbol of Xi'an.

Jade articles here are mostly from Lantian County of Xi'an, which is famous for the quality of jade from ancient China.

 Shuyuanmen Gate not only carries the legacy of the ancient Chinese art and reflects the richness of traditional Chinese culture, but also transports a peaceful cultural atmosphere to people. Spending the day seeking out hidden treasures and making a cultural connection there is definitely a valuable experience for visitors from home and abroad.