Xidan
Xidan
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Xidan Culture Square

Xidan (Chinese: 西单; Pinyin: Xīdān) is a major traditional commercial area in Beijing, China.[1] It is located in the Xicheng District.[2]

The Xidan commercial district incorporates the Xidan Culture Square, North Xidan Street, as well as many supermarkets and department stores. The Xidan Cultural Square is the largest venue for cultural events with shopping nearby in downtown Beijing.[1]

Area

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Xidan occupies around 80 hectares (197.7 acres) within the Xicheng District.[3]

Name

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The current "Zhanyun" paifang in Xidan

The name Xidan (literally, "West Single") came from the paifang that existed on one of the streets there.[4] In this context, the name "Xidan" refers to the single (单) paifang that existed on the west side (西) of the city.

The paifang was rebuilt in 2008, and now stands at the Xidan Culture Square.[5]

History

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Underground square of The New Xidan
Xidan Joy City
Hua Wei Center

Xidan began to develop in the Ming Dynasty as an area alongside the passage for traders from Southwestern China to enter Beijing. Restaurants and shops were eventually built for these merchants. Eventually, as the Western part of the city became the residential area for officials, Xidan became a commercial area. The location of several government agencies when Beijing was under the administration of the Republic of China also helped Xidan's economic growth.[6]

The area began to experience massive growth in the 1950s, as the population of Beijing began to move westwards.[7] By the 1970s, Xidan, along with Qianmen and Wangfujing, became the three major commercial areas in Beijing.[7]

Currently, the area is known throughout Beijing as a shopping area.[8][9][10] Many malls and department stores have stores within the area, the oldest of which is the China branch of the Taiwanese department store Chungyo.[9][11][12]

Xidan is also home to Lingjing Alley, which, at 32m (34 yards), is considered to be the broadest hutong in Beijing.[13]

Xidan Wall

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Main article: Democracy Wall

Xidan Wall, also called Democracy Wall, is a long brick wall on Xidan Street. Erected in 1978, the event is generally recognized as the beginning of the Beijing Spring.[14] Xidan Wall played a significant role in the democracy movement in Beijing during the summer of 1979.[15] It was at that time where the wall received a significant number of posters that criticized China's leaders.[16] Even an award-winning Canadian journalist John Fraser put up his own "dazibao," whose notice about a lost gold signet ring that concluded in vague political sentiment bizarrely resulted in his addressing the 1979 summer masses in Tiananmen Square.[17] However, by December 1979, Beijing's municipal government banned the posting of wall posters on Xidan Wall in an attempt to curtail the democracy movement.[15] The municipal government instead allowed allow posters on a site within Yuetan Park,[16] a small park located in Beijing, but required registration with the city and an agreement to be "held responsible for political and legal implications of their messages."[15] Eventually, the most widely regarded poster writer for Xidan Wall, Wei Jingsheng, was sent to prison.[18]

Transportation

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Xidan North Street

The area is served by Xidan station, which is an interchange between Line 1 and Line 4 of the Beijing Subway system.[19] In addition, many Beijing Bus lines serve the area.[10][20]

Government and infrastructure

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The Chinese Ministry of Education is headquartered in Damucang Hutong [zh], Xidan.[21]

Education

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Xidan Primary School

Beijing Xidan Primary School (S: 北京市西单小学, P: Běijīng Shì Xīdān Xiǎoxué) serves Xidan.[22] The school's predecessor was a private school, Jiemin Primary School (洁民小学), established in 1934. The Ministry of Education took control in 1953. In 1958 Jiemin merged with Xidan Toutiao Primary School (西单头条小学) and Baimiao Primary School (白庙小学). The school received its current name in August 2002.[23]

Future

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Xidan Elementary School student reading a letter she wrote to American Public Diplomacy Envoy Cal Ripken Jr. during his October 28, 2007 to November 6, 2007 visit to China.

The Chinese Government has targeted Xidan in its 11th Five Year Plan, which is scheduled to conclude by 2010, with a stated mission of improving the area's environment, as well as diversifying the genre of stores that open in the area. Portions of the plan were already completed in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games.[24][25]

39°54′27.21″N 116°22′4.08″E / 39.9075583°N 116.3678000°E / 39.9075583; 116.3678000

References

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Xidan

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Xidan (Chinese: 喜蛋) is a male virtual character in the Chinese 3D animated series Mo Lin Legend (also known as Mo Lin Legend: The Four Ancient Countries for its first season, premiered in 2011) and its sequel Mo Lin Legend: Ancient Divine Beasts (premiered in 2013), produced in collaboration with CCTV. He serves as a supporting character and rival to the protagonist Mo Lin on the fictional Haiwen Planet amid a severe energy crisis affecting the machine city, where Mo Lin becomes the Chosen One tasked with finding a new energy source.[1][2] In the series, Xidan is depicted as an arrogant, impulsive, and showy youth who frequently refers to himself as "this great one" (本大爷) and treats Mo Lin as a rival, often challenging him directly. He demonstrates extreme speed in his actions and exhibits a notable fear of dogs, which causes him to flee in panic during encounters.[3] In the sequel, Xidan represents the White Tiger among the Four Divine Beasts and contributes to the team's efforts against threats, maintaining his brave yet boastful personality. His age advances from approximately 14 in the first series to 16-18 in the sequel. The series integrates themes of adolescent growth, teamwork, science, history, and cultural elements from ancient civilizations.[4]

Character profile

Description and background

Xidan (喜蛋) is a male virtual character in the Chinese 3D animated series Mo Lin Legend (莫麟传奇), which premiered on CCTV in 2011 with 26 episodes, and its 2013 sequel Mo Lin Legend: Ancient Divine Beasts (莫麟传奇之远古神兽).[5] He represents the White Tiger among the saint beasts in the series' mythology and serves as a supporting character who acts as a rival to the protagonist Mo Lin.[5] Xidan is approximately 14 years old in the first series, advancing to 16–18 years old in the sequel. His birthday is November 30, and he has a virtual blood type of B (assigned for personality analysis purposes).[5] He first appears at Dr. Fang Zhuan's house.[5] Within the story's setting on the fictional Haiwen Planet—amid a severe energy crisis threatening the machine-based civilization—Xidan contributes to the overarching narrative of Mo Lin's quest to locate a new energy source and confront antagonistic forces.[5]

Personality

Xidan is characterized by a highly arrogant and boastful demeanor, frequently referring to himself as "本大爷" (this great one) and proclaiming himself to be "天下无敌" (invincible or unrivaled in the world).[6][5] This self-perception manifests in exhibitionist tendencies, as he greatly enjoys showing off and drawing attention to himself.[6] His personality is also markedly impulsive and competitive, often leading him to act on instinct and view protagonist Mo Lin as a direct rival, which fuels confrontational interactions.[6][5] Xidan is outgoing, combative, and fearless in general, displaying an energetic and bold approach to challenges.[6][5] Beneath this brash and self-assured exterior, however, Xidan reveals a pure-hearted and kind nature, along with genuine bravery and a sense of courage that persists across both series.[6][5] A contrasting trait is his pronounced fear of dogs, which occasionally undercuts his confident posturing in humorous ways.[6][5] Overall, these elements combine to form a dynamic personality that is simultaneously brash and endearing.

Abilities and traits

Xidan possesses exceptional speed as a primary physical attribute, enabling him to move at extreme velocities that are emphasized early in the series.[6] As the representative of the White Tiger among the saint beasts, he exhibits strong athleticism, agility, and combat readiness aligned with the mythical beast's traditional symbolism of power and swiftness.[6] Xidan also has a significant phobia of dogs, which manifests as a key weakness in his character.[6] This speed is occasionally leveraged in his competitive encounters with protagonist Mo Lin.[6]

Appearances

Mo Lin Legend

In the first season of Mo Lin Legend (2011), Xidan debuts at the home of Dr. Fang Zhuan. Early in the series, specifically in episode 2, he demonstrates his exceptional speed as a defining trait.[5] In episode 4, Xidan's fear of dogs becomes apparent when he stands on a high place boasting about himself, only to nearly fall after being startled by a dog.[5] This vulnerability contrasts with his usual bravado and occurs parallel to protagonist Mo Lin's trial against guardian Chen, during which Mo Lin acquires his weapon Ni Lin.[5] Episode 5 features a key confrontation in which Xidan challenges Mo Lin while the latter rides his mount Ti Ying. Mo Lin declines the challenge, prompting Xidan to steal Mo Lin's notebook. During the ensuing struggle, Xidan accidentally discovers a strange photo inside the notebook before fleeing after being scared by a dog again. This incident prompts Mo Lin to seek clarification from Dr. Fang Zhuan, advancing the storyline toward locating four boxes to form a badge that enables the reception of new energy and sustains Haiwen Planet amid the ongoing crisis.[5] As the series progresses, Xidan participates in the group's collective adventures to address the energy crisis afflicting the machine city of Haiwen Planet. He joins Mo Lin and friends in searching for clues to enter the energy base, confronting guardians and navigating trials inspired by Earth's four ancient civilizations. His rivalry with Mo Lin persists as an ongoing dynamic throughout these group efforts.[5]

Mo Lin Legend: Ancient Divine Beasts

In Mo Lin Legend: Ancient Divine Beasts, Xidan reprises his role as a key supporting character and rival to protagonist Mo Lin.[5][7] Now aged approximately 16-18 years, he continues to represent the White Tiger among the saint beasts, maintaining his exceptional speed as a defining trait while participating in the expanded adventures centered on ancient divine beasts.[5][7] His core personality endures unchanged—arrogant and self-confident, frequently referring to himself as "this great one" (本大爷), yet brave and pure-hearted—along with his longstanding fear of dogs.[5][7] Xidan actively contributes to group efforts and conflicts on Haiwen Planet, supporting the team in facing new threats tied to the ancient divine beasts.[5]

Relationships

With Mo Lin

Xidan regards Mo Lin as his primary rival and main opponent throughout the series, frequently challenging him due to his arrogant and self-confident personality.[6][8] He often refers to himself as "本大爷" (this great one) and views himself as invincible, which fuels his competitive attitude toward Mo Lin, the protagonist selected by the ancestors as the chosen one to address Haiwen Planet's energy crisis.[6][5] In the first series, Mo Lin Legend, this rivalry manifests in direct confrontations stemming from Xidan's impulsiveness. For instance, in Episode 5, while Mo Lin is riding his mount 蹄影 (Ti Ying), Xidan encounters him and issues a challenge, which Mo Lin refuses; Xidan then snatches Mo Lin's notebook, leading to a scuffle during which Xidan discovers a strange photograph that advances the plot.[5] These interactions highlight Xidan's tendency to provoke competition, contrasting with Mo Lin's more reserved demeanor, though Xidan's underlying brave and pure-hearted nature suggests his provocations are not malicious.[6] In the sequel, Mo Lin Legend: Ancient Divine Beasts, Xidan's rivalry persists as he continues to treat Mo Lin as his opponent and maintains his boastful habits.[8] Despite this ongoing competitive dynamic, both characters function as part of the same team, collaborating with others to confront threats such as the approaching Chaos Ancient City and rebellious ferocious beasts, implying their interactions contribute to group efforts in protecting the planet.[8] While specific details on a shift toward camaraderie are not extensively documented, their shared roles as representatives of the saint beasts (Xidan for the White Tiger and Mo Lin for Xuanwu) and joint adventures indicate a functional partnership amid the rivalry.[6][8]

With Yaya

Xidan frequently engages in verbal sparring and playful bickering with Yaya, a female classmate of protagonist Mo Lin. Their interactions are characterized by ongoing quarrels and witty exchanges, often referred to as "斗嘴" (verbal sparring), which highlight Xidan's boastful and impulsive personality as he repeatedly refers to himself as "本大爷" (this great one).[6][5] This confrontational yet light-hearted dynamic is a recurring feature of Xidan's character, emphasizing his outgoing and combative side while contrasting with his more serious competitive rivalry with Mo Lin. The exchanges underscore Xidan's tendency to showcase his self-perceived superiority, even as they remain playful rather than deeply antagonistic.[6][5] These frequent verbal conflicts contribute to the group's overall chemistry, portraying Xidan as bold and expressive in his social interactions.[6][5]

With other characters

Xidan first appears in Mo Lin Legend in association with Dr. Fang Zhuan, who plays a role in his introduction to the story's events on Haiwen Planet. Throughout the series and its sequel, Xidan participates in group adventures alongside various supporting team members, contributing to efforts to resolve the planet's energy crisis while occasionally clashing with antagonists. These collective interactions highlight his position among the saint beasts, though specific ties to minor characters remain secondary to his primary rivalries and alliances.
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