In the avenues and alleyways

The writer named the novel after the iconic landmarks, which boast a history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Nowadays, it is known as part of the Beijing Central Axis — a 7.8-kilometer-long north-south line running through the center of the historical neighborhood of Beijing, which is seeking UNESCO World Heritage status at the World Heritage Committee in 2024.

"In the novel, there are many contradictions between history and reality, as well as tradition and innovation, since people were experiencing lifestyle changes following reform and opening-up in 1978," adds Liu.