From Ming Dynasty all through Qing Dynasty, to the Nationalist Government, to Post-Liberation, the area of Da Zha Lan has always been the commercial center of Beijing, where a great number of established shops and brands have existed for hundreds of years. It has experienced the transitions from Chinese handicraft industry, to capitalist free trade, to socialist market economy, and can be deemed as the paradigm for Chinese commercial culture.

    Since the 90s of last century, wide-ranging movements of urbanization in Beijing have intensified the conflicts and clashes among issues including historical preservation, restoration of dangerous and old buildings, improvement of living standards and urban development. As the city keeps on expanding towards the suburbs, the infrastructure in such an old city center as Da Zha Lan remains underdeveloped, plus the cap on the height of architecture in this region has prohibited property developers to make any constructions, it' s impossible to trade second-hand houses. As a result, the elite class goes on moving outward and the risk of the area being vacant runs high, and a great number of low-income immigrants move in from other places. Impoverishments and degenerations in this region begin to reveal themselves.