Dazhalan Jie 大栅栏街 Qianmen 前门

Zhangyiyuan 张一元 Tea Shop on Dashila/Dazhalan was founded in 1900 by Zhang Changyi (born Wenqing - many Chinese in the arts or business take on new names for the purpose of their career). Names are important in China. There is both a sound component and a meaning component. He chose the name "Yiyuan" for the shop to associated it with the New Year, new beginnings, freshness and everything green. The name brings the blessings of prosperity upon the business, and if the sound is good, people like to say it.

He had come from Shexian County in Anhui Province years earlier and gradually worked himself up from a handcart and booth to open this store. He was an uneducated farmer with a taste for tea.

His abilities and high standards brought success. After this, his first shop, he opened ten more in Beijing and became a leading brand in teas. Below, the tea shop is pictured in the early 1900s

He always tried to better himself and set high standards. His own lack of background led him to make an interesting will. He specified that his descendants were not to go into the business, but were to hire managers. His descendants were to devote themselves to learning and improving themselves in other careers outside of the business world.