thumb|Yabaolu

thumb|Inside one of Yabao Street shopping malls

Yabaolu (, ) is a street and area in Beijing, China, running from Chaoyangmen Outer Street to Jianguomen Outer Street. The south part of Yabaolu is home to Beijing Children's Hospital. On the west side of Yabaolu lies Ritan Park.

As of 2011 the community has many high rise shopping malls and shops, is a major hub of trade. Previously it was a community of one story courtyards with little activity.

Name

Yabaolu, "elegant treasure road," is one of the many Old Beijing place names to have been beautified. The original name was "Yaba Hutong" (), lit. "mute man alley".

Yabaolu markets

The northern area of Yabaolu is sometimes unofficially named Russiatown, since the clientele of the shops is mostly foreign, with most of that being Russian, and because the neighbourhood has a high population of Russian traders from Siberia, who are transient. Previously local Chinese people called the traders dà dǎoyé (大倒爷, "big trader"), while as of 2011 they now refer to them as hǎo péngyou (好朋友, "good friend"). In addition to Russian traders, Polish, Ukrainian, former Yugoslav, and other eastern European traders also do business in Yabaolu. Jaime FlorCruz of CNN said in 2011 that "Here bargaining is tough but business is good. The most successful, traders say, can resell their items for 20 times their investment." Many restaurant owners and shop keepers do business in Yabaolu. Some pedicab drivers speak pidgin Russian and charge the equivalent of two U.S. dollars for a ride.

Appears and is described in the book Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present by Peter Hessler. Peter has a friend named Polat occupied as a money changer and clothing dealer. They sit on a platform of a Uyghur restaurant drinking beers and watching locals pass by.

References

Further reading

  • "RUSSIANS GET WRAPPED UP IN CHINA FURS ALL MANNER OF MAMMAL GOES INTO COATS CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING FOR." Philadelphia Inquirer. July 22, 2000. A03 National.
  • "Russians find Beijing's gone as fur as it can go." San Diego Union-Tribune. August 4, 2000.
  • "FUR-SEEKING RUSSIANS ARE FLOCKING TO BEIJING TRADE AT BIG INDOOR MARKET A SIGN OF WARMING RELATIONS." San Jose Mercury News. July 30, 2000. 1AA General News.
  • Dorgan, Michael. "Shoppers send fur flying at Beijing market Russians flock to China's capital for coats, other bargains." Knight Ridder Newspapers at The Dallas Morning News. July 23, 2000.