Xuannan is a term broadly encompassing the region from Xuanwumen to Guang'anmen, both inside and outside the old city walls — an area whose unique cultural ecosystem is known as "Xuannan culture".
As the renowned Qing Dynasty historian Dai Yi once said, Xuannan may not have the grand palaces and lush gardens of the imperial city or the tranquil elegance of the western suburbs, but it has long been the gathering place of Beijing's intellectual elites, leaving a legacy of historical landmarks that speaks to the heart of China's modern transformation.
