崇文门 Chongwenmen

Chongwenmen
Chongwenmen: Yuan, said the door of civilization, commonly known as "Hartmann", "Haidai door." Chongwenmen to left-hand side Weng Cheng Zhenhai Zhenhai iron inside the famous turtle. In addition Chongwenmen customs duty on the harsh business also look outside the door daunting. "Chongwen iron turtle," were all over the ring Kyoto. Take the car wine, liquor is outside the city, then most of the wine is good wine from Zhuozhou in Hebei and other transportation, natural to go into the Beijing Road. Yun-wine-the-art car outside the city's Tiananmen Square left, Chongwenmen to pay taxes. At that time the capital of the Qing Dynasty liquor sign a written "South shochu", meaning to say, I have been on duty, my wine is not piracy, of course, that time has not yet said a ownership, Ha ha.杨柳青年画the late Qing Dynasty, known as a "cross Qiu-Jiang night." Its liquor advertising sign painted on the screen that read "South", "in wine" and other words, this is reflected in the tax for all the good habits. Chongwen previous outside the north-east have an iron turtle, the shape is very simple, it is said to bridge the moat for a child to have a sea view, so people with a sea turtle to Zhenzhu eyes, to protect the safety of Beijing. In addition, the rulers of ancient ideology and the pursuit of harmony in form is about "feng shui" intermediate "Zhengyang" for the left-hand side, "Chongwen" You Shou "Willy" to form a well-known "before the three" Main Street. Beijing Chongwen District, one of the four major urban areas, is by and named after the Chongwenmen. Chongwenmen Yuan Dadu was one of the Shing Mun 11 (at the time the door of civilization), the three South City is one of the most East. Ming Dynasty city of Beijing converted, 11 will be changed to 9; the door of civilization, although the location is not fixed, but changed its name to Chongwenmen. Qing Dynasty, used this name until today. This is a lot left in the middle iron to hear the matter. Yuan Dadu city is rammed into the soil (called the ancient "version of the building"), under the narrow width, and stand tall. Construction began in 1267 (Yuan Yuan for four years), completed in 1276 (13 years Yuan), a full ten years. Because it was rammed into the soil, then had a city to prevent soil erosion rain, with subsequent 1000 (Guanming) proposed WANG Qing-rui, "Pai Wei provision, since under the cherry on." That is used reeds curtain from bottom-up coverage, people like to wear as I am similar, or reed Mino city or town, and the establishment of a civilization outside the overcast field. "Analysis of Jin Chi" set: every year, "Wei close to the city Minowa," up to "millions" (Tam) as much. Chongwen District today with the headline grass plant 10 to the south, north, central Lucaogou Park (formerly Reed Park), and other names, all of the Yuan Dynasty and Wei received the relevant field. Later, due to the occurrence of the Yuan Dynasty throne battle, Cheng I am afraid that the other side with the fire siege, the curtain is dropping the reed. Yuan Dadu why open the door 11, South Second, North Third, the three things? Is not recorded in the history. Yuanmomingchu wrote "The farmland more than words" (author unknown), "Liu Yan City Department of Taibao Customization, a 11, making the city a man of bionic strength Ne Zha two-legged" shape. Zhang Yu also later wrote: "Most of the around 11, thatch grass land to build the city Ne Zha." Like this, 11 is the legendary symbol of the image of the Ne Zha. Three cities as "3", North City 2 "feet", the three things is the "six arms." "Chuang Chuang 11, is charged as Yunyan" (Yin-ching is a "golden-Taiwan"), we can see are very busy. As most of the design for 11 of the Shing Mun, "Liu Tai-Bao" is Liu Bingzhong. He had been a monk, Fahaozaicong, officials renamed after Liu Bingzhong. Yuan is the supreme ruler of Buddhism. Liu Haiyun called by the monks, have not yet met to ascend the throne of Kublai Khan. Liu followed Khan to fight in Yunnan, cutting the Southern Song Dynasty, the popular attention to Khan. Khan took the throne after the closure to Liu Tai-Bao, to participate in state affairs. Although Liu Bingzhong Buddhists, but careful study of Taoist doctrines, the "Book of Changes" of tai chi, Liang Yi, four images, gossip, Shao Yong Song Dynasty, "by the World Bank" in the "innate number as the" delight in talking about. Large capital construction, particularly in the planning and design, he is one of the principal person in charge. Therefore, in order to cater to his supreme ruler of the Yuan Dynasty "long prosperity of the" arrogant, blind faith in psychology, in order to play their own theories, their own aspirations, from the design of the number of Shing Mun, to spread unfounded, "Shinto-based education", Is entirely possible. Liu's death buried in the Marco Polo Bridge. Yuan door of civilization, also known as hada door at the time. "Old news the next test," cited Xi Zhi Jin, "said:" hada large door in the Palace, the name of. "Hada why Mr. King, can not test. "Hada" homophonic circulating around town as a "big Kazakhstan" and "Hard" until the liberation Hartmann also license cigarettes. In the Yuan Dynasty, hada door to call this, over the door of civilization. Writing in a number of intellectuals, "hada", "big Kazakhstan" elegant enough, on the one hand, the use of its homonym, on the one hand, the use of the door of civilization in the south eastern end of the geographical location, language, "Haidai door." Chiang Ming-Kwai who wrote, "Chang-off," said: "Tai Shan, to do throughout the east Bohai Sea Ju Dou, when the yuan to 'Haidai' doors of the check." Sea, that is, in the Bohai Sea, East China Sea; Dai, that is, Zong, that is, Zong Mount Tai. Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu, "Wang Yue," there "were injured husband, Lu Qing unfinished," the poem. The two places in the East, the more justified explanations. To the Qianlong of the Qing, Yang Qing from the book "the situation in Western Beijing," added: (Chongwenmen) "You Yue Haidai, corner Hill made the sea route are Ossetia tribute, the Secretary for Tax Division in behavior." This is just from the people of the Ming Shi Xuan "Heritage of the old Beijing", "9 capital, there are taxation, and the EC in a Chongwen Division" comes from. As the text Shung-door has a total taxable Secretary, had "Haidai" as "Shan Hai Yiu corner," This is a very far-fetched. However, regardless of the "Haidai" word of explanation, the Ming and Qing literati, and even the supreme ruler of all often do not have to "civilized" and "Chongwen, and" Haidai. "Qing Ming Ming as" Gordon House, Chongwen, "poem : "Droit de seigneur city for the first net and Egypt struggle, hope Haidai clear eyes open, half-empty when seated Ziqi, Qiusheng miles this stage. "Haidai on the door, better weather, the East Ziqi, eyes open thousands of miles, how magnificent! Of the Qing Dynasty," White Yokado recorded poetry ":" Bringing the Haidai door, prostitution who suffer low. "Own" are low "as a foil, extolling the sea injuries rise of the door. Yuan from the so-ching to the famous Da Guan continued living in the vicinity of Chongwenmen." Chen Yuan know a little "set: Yuan Yu Shi Wang Yan in the door of civilization Xu, outside the South East, have built villas, "to build a garden, from a Didi", a more "SMTH Pavilion", is particularly outstanding. At that time, many people have in mind Ren says: Citing boarded the "Bringing the North inner gates? (Shing) Five cloud disappeared Margaret; Seomang henashi poop (Tonghui He refers to the ship), in general Yanbo vast, varied between the tree goes. "Civilization can be seen at the time the doors near the grand occasion.'s Death was over thanks to the" text ", the Yongzheng Scholars , East Pavilion taxi University of Prince Edward Liu Tongxun Taibao (in the Qing Dynasty over the law, "the text is" the most difficult, at least), the Yongzheng imperial poetry thanks to his "high-Haidai family status," Liu said, is meant to live in Haidai The door a noble family. "Cao water recorded time" in mind and a well-known calligrapher Zhao (a word days) also live in front of Chongwen, "show deep Yuhong, Phoebe Hall," is extremely important. However, during the Qing Dynasty's Chongwen The door has not Nancheng of Yuan Dadu city and capital of the southern tip of the early Ming Dynasty, but became more lively in the city. After that is the case: the original oak-Ming Zhu Yan Feng in Beijing, won in his nephew Wen Jian's throne, the year Wing-lok, decided to move the capital from Nanjing, Beijing. So from 1406 (four years, Wing-lok) in the Yuan Dadu city on the basis of the reconstruction of Beijing. 1420 (Wing-lok 18) completed. After the renovation of Beijing, the first to the Nancheng Yuan Dadu city, 0.8 kilometers to the south. Most of the original south of the city was about Tiananmen Square today in the northern section, moved south into what it is today. At the same time, the North removed the city from east to west and the city also demolished part of the North for the construction of a city. The Andingmen Jimen Qiao and outside the vicinity of the ruins of Yuan Dadu Tucheng. Second, to be re-brick Tucheng City. Yuan Dadu put on the Tucheng although "I am similar," but can not resist the final curtain Wei rain, so in the generation of the Yuan Dynasty, part of the "city of collapse" of things often happen only in the era of Kublai Khan's Yuan to 20 years 30 Years, "the city collapse," eight times. Every time repairs, Xingshidongzhong, and waste money, not cost goods. Ming Dynasty bricks into the city are also slightly trapezoidal, under the wide and narrow, brick per line per line and between the bricks, up slightly recessed for the benefit of low-down rain. Third, the Yuan Dadu to be changed to 11 9, Nancheng three doors as usual, only to change the name of the Shing Mun, such as the door of civilization Chongwenmen changed until today. By the year 1552 (Sanshiyinian Ming Jiajing), in order to prevent the invasion of northern ethnic minorities, in the whole scheme outside Beijing, and then a building outside the city, resulting in difficulties in the financial and material resources, the only foreign Nancheng Tsukiji into a strip of the East and West Wall, that is today's Guangqu Men from the East, West Quang Ninh to the door outside the city, also called the city. As a result, the old city of Beijing south of the Chongwenmen, has become the inner city. Street shops, other residents, were out of the gate of the official business, on the rise. Customs of the Qing Dynasty who, in the next follow-on urban construction. In order to transfer it over in Beijing were officials of the revenue, "9 capital, there are taxation, and the EC in a Chongwen Secretary" (see Ming Shi Xuan "old Beijing Heritage"). In the beginning, "the Department Tariff family" provides that the baggage is not out of the tax, "however, foreign officials are often taxable items, such as the renewal of silk cloth, and so on." As a result, "the private money that the levy of tax-free capital" and even "no sign of having goods also." Customs officials "and go on patrol, as a means of tax evasion, double punishment" (see above are "dual-day Zhi Wen"). Chen Qing Dynasty game, "Lang Ji Wen Qian," set: "Wu Jiang, Shandong Buzheng Shi Lu Zhongcheng to see Majesty, the customs officials (Chongwenmen refers to the Inland Revenue Department) claim over the extravagance, the public can not and is home to clothing, carrying a servant Before the line, said: 'You Shen my ears, what taxes!' To both, by old friends from the mattress quilt, and also finish things off of. "Taxation, many procedures, cross-examined in every possible way, the delay time. General small traders also have to queue up and wait. Tianchangrijiu, small traders find out a solution; goods according to their number, the tax inserted Mao Yan, reached the crossing, customs officials removed money immediately released. Richard Li Qing Dynasty people had a poem: "9 levy a special class, the horse track dust each successive car. So in self Tam spent tax, Zhao Zhao double the money made off intercalation temples." This is money that customs officials to the private . Tax revenue Chongwenmen many, in order to prevent the envy of other officials to "offer fresh" in the name of each year in March. To the emperor and to send Secretary of State croaker, winter bamboo shoots and whitebait October delivery has become a disguised form of dividing up the gains. At that time, also provides that the city not to open the "burning pot", where foreign liquor by the official designated by the sale of wine merchants, the evil spirit in the text of the door of the 18 designated by the unity of their land for sale, unified tax, commonly known as "18 hotels." Wine is a heavy duty, breweries small workshop in general, to make a living, often at night with a chest full of wine pig urine neck, secretly climb over the wall in order to avoid high taxes. This is the "back alcohol". Back alcohol is a very difficult and dangerous. They close to the back wall with both hands and both feet firmly and Dengzhe Pazhe per line Chengzhuan micro-protruding, up bit by bit, "climb" to the city's health department and then go on to the rope. The feudal rulers of serious exploitation, forced people to seek out Jiusiyisheng. At that time, so the text of the Inland Revenue Department said Miranda was "gate of hell. Since the end of Ming Dynasty, Chongwen outside is more lively, large and small traders, busy. Ying moat has a clear head, a shelf River bridge, a middle reaches of the river floating restaurant, a kind of cross-strait trees and plants. Lvliu the wind, on the invitation of red, very beautiful. Ming Dong Xuan "Summer out the door of civilization," Poetry: "civilization outside the city Yin Yin Liu, Huang Peng sent a hundred Bird sound good. Yugou off line (moat) Looking back, five-Yun Shen Phoenix pavilion." Bridge near For the city of flowers, "Every month there are four cities, farmers and daily-use device for more. His four Alley North, are required to decorate Boudoir, Cui Yu-ming pendant, fake flowers meaning of a bun, many in the market between" (See, "Zhi-day even smell"). Moat along the east Pacific for the palace, the palace known as peach, in March each year, "the rule of man from a discretionary call, the flying horse bit bridle, and this visit" and "Grass people to sleep", "Arrow sprinkling (pot for the game), Luk Yeung Sun Slope "(see the early Qing Dynasty who PAN Rong Majesty" at the age of Teikyo Ji Sheng "). David hook one end of the Qing dynasty also said that "the city of peace Gongmiao height", "near to river channel for irrigation, no city Guo, Chun-bo diarrhea green, soft red soil shop, Chan King-century drama, music into the embankment, clothing figure Xiang, Yang shake Spring, where the Three Mile Xu. " In winter, is a moat on the scene: "The winter cold, wooden bed to the next set of steel, one person cited in the former rope, sitting three or four people, the swift ice, the fine-sounding name-bed trailer. Canyun snow , The King even more picturesque. Rub an ice slide, both written by Li's iron teeth, the popular ice, such as Chi-sing switch, the first to win the title, skating fine-sounding name. All the people in the moat, the group rubbed smooth, Means of transport between the two places also dragged bed. Even connect a trailer bed, and governance discretion to look at Chen, Huan Yin singing, two or three traction, swift and convenient. Ji car than to sit and say more than "(see "When Teikyo-year-old Ji Sheng"). Later, the increasing blockage of water moat, the Qing government and warlords was not double-jun, scenic spots in the past, gone. Chongwenmen peach palace to traffic, will be replaced by donkey; donkey know, go into chaos, people do not have to lead to their own destination donkey will be pedestrian access to no error. This is the case, until the eve of liberation. Today, Chongwenmen wall has been dismantled, replaced by a moat of water flow underground drain. Wall along the wall of the site, on the ground wide clean asphalt-paved road, traveling pedestrians, day and night, is always flooded; on both sides of the road, stands tall, Tsui Xiulian screen is home to 10,000 people in. There are built around the city underground railway, extending in all directions, and Feng Chi switch, the daily throughput of hundreds of thousands of people. Here with 700 when compared to the pre-Yuan Dadu, which is a huge difference.

崇文门
　　崇文门：元称文明门，俗称“哈德门“,“海岱门“。崇文门以瓮 城左首镇海寺内镇海铁龟著名。此外崇文门税关之苛也使外埠客 商望门生畏。“崇文铁龟”名遍响京都。走酒车，城外是酒道，当年的美酒佳酿大多是从河北涿州等地运来，进北京自然要走南路。运酒的车先进了外城的左安门，再到崇文门上税。清朝那时候京城卖酒的招牌得写“南路烧酒”，意思就是说，我上过税了，我的酒不是盗版，当然，那时候还没有产权一说呢，呵呵。清末的杨柳青年画，有一幅叫做《秋江晚渡》。它的画面上画着酒幌，上面写着“南路”、“于酒”等字样，反映的就是这种全民纳税的良好风尚。以前的崇文门外，东北方向有一只铁龟，造型很是古朴，据说这一段儿护城河的桥下有一个海眼，于是人们就用一只乌龟来镇住海眼，保护北京城的平安。另外古代的统治者在思想和形式上都追求和谐统一讲究“风水”中间为“正阳”左首为“崇文”右首为“宣武”形成有名的“前三门”大街。
　　北京四大城区之一的崇文区，无疑是由崇文门而得名的。崇文门原为元大都的十一个城门之一（当时名文明门），是南城三个门最东的一个。明朝改建北京城，将十一门改为九门；文明门的位置虽然未动，但改名为崇文门。清朝沿用此名，直到今天。这中间有许多遗闻铁事。
　　元大都城是用土夯成的(上古叫做"版筑")，下宽上窄，巍然屹立。开始建筑于1267年(元至元四年)，完成于1276年(至元十三年)，整整十个年头。因为是用土夯成的，于是产生了如何防止雨水冲刷城土的问题，后来用千户(官名)王庆瑞建议，"以苇排编，自下彻上"。就是用苇帘子自下往上覆盖，像人穿蓑衣一样，简称苇城或蓑城，并在文明门外设立了阴场。《析津志》载：每年都要"收苇以蓑城"，达"百万"(担)之多。今天崇文区内的草厂头条到十条，南、北、中芦草园(原名芦苇园)等地名，都与元朝的收苇场有关。后来由于元朝发生皇位之争，守城一方恐怕对方用火攻城，乃撤去苇帘。
　　元大都为什么开十一个门，南三北二，东西各三?正史上无记载。元末明初写成的《农田余话》(著者不详)说，"燕城系刘太保定制，凡十一门，作哪吒城三头六臂两足"的形状。稍后的张昱也写道："大都周遭十一门，草苫土筑哪吒城。"似此，十一门是采用传说中哪吒形象的象征了。进城三门是"三头"，北城二门是"双足"，东西各三门是"六臂"。"幢幢十一门，车马如云烟"(清乃贤著《金台集》)，可见大都是非常热闹的。至于把大都设计为十一个城门的"刘太保"就是刘秉忠。他当过和尚，法号子聪，做官后改名刘秉忠。元朝最高统治者是信佛教的。刘由一个叫海云的和尚介绍，见到了还未继承皇位的忽必烈。刘跟着忽必烈打云南，伐南宋，很受忽必烈重视。忽必烈夺得皇位后，封刘为太保，参与国家大事。刘秉忠虽是佛教徒，但精心研究道家的学说，对于《易经》的太极、两仪、四象、八卦，宋代邵雍《经世书》中的"先天象数"都津津乐道。建筑大都城时，尤其在规划设计方面，他是主要负责人之一。所以，他为迎合元朝最高统治者"国运绵长"的狂妄、迷信心理，为发挥自己的理论，施展自己的抱负，从城门数目的设计上，来宣扬毫无根据的"神道设教"，也是完全有可能的。刘死后葬在卢沟桥。
　　元朝的文明门，在当时又叫哈达门。《日下旧闻考》引晰津志》说："哈达大王府在门内，因名之。"哈达大王为何许人，已不可考。"哈达"又讹传谐音为"哈大"、"哈德"，直到解放前还有哈德门牌香烟。在元朝，哈达门这种称呼，已超过了文明门。一些知识分子在写作时，认为"哈达"、"哈大"不够文雅，一方面利用它的谐音，一方面利用文明门在南城东端的地理位置，写成"海岱门"。明朝人蒋一葵写的《长安客话》说："泰山、渤海俱都城东尽境，元时以'海岱'名门取此。"海，即渤海、东海；岱，即岱宗，岱宗即泰山。唐大诗人杜甫《望岳》就有"伤宗夫如何，齐鲁青未了"的诗句。这两个地方都在东方，解释的较有道理。到了清乾隆时，杨从清著的《北京形势大略》又说：(崇文门)"又曰海岱，言山陬海皆梯航纳贡，税课司在焉。"这只是从明朝人史玄《旧京遗事》上"京师九门，皆有课税，而统于崇文一司"一语而来。由于祟文门有个总课税司，就把"海岱"解释为"山陬海耀"，这是极为牵强的。但不管对"海岱"二字的解释如何，明清的文人雅士，甚至最高统治者都往往不用"文明"、"崇文、而用"海岱"。如明人卓明卿《登崇文楼》诗："城头初夜净氛埃，海岱分明望眼开，紫气半空时入座，秋声万里此登台。"登上海岱门，秋高气爽，紫气东来，眼开万里，何等雄壮！清人著的《白华堂诗录》："海岱瞻门高，风尘苦身贱。"以自己的"身贱"衬托、歌颂海伤门的高耸。因而从元到清不断有达官名士，居住在崇文门一带。如《宸垣识略》载：元朝御史王俨在文明门外东南里许，筑有别墅，"园地构筑，甲诸邸第"，更有一座"水木清华亭"，尤为出众。当时人许有壬记云：登上此亭"北瞻闉?(城门)，五云杳霭；西望舳舻(指通惠河上船只)，泛泛于烟波浩渺、云树参差之间"。可见当时文明门附近的盛况。死后被赐溢为"文正"的雍正进士、东阁大学士加太子太保的刘统勋(按清朝的溢法，"文正"最难、最少)，雍正赐他御制诗是"海岱高门第"，意思说刘是住在海岱门的一户高贵人家。《水曹清暇录》又记有名书法家张照(字得天)也住在崇文门外，"展宇宏深，有楠木厅"，极为讲究。不过，清朝时代的崇文门，已不是元大都的南城城址和明朝初期的都城最南端，而是变成较为热闹的内城了。
　　经过是这样的：明燕王朱橡原来封在北京，在夺取了他的侄儿建文帝的皇位以后，年号永乐，决定把首都由南京迁到北京。于是从1406年(永乐四年)在元大都城的基础上，改建北京城。1420年(永乐十八年)建成。改建后的北京城，第一，把元大都的南城城址，向南移了0．8公里。原来大都南城城址，约在今天天安门广场北段，南移后成为现在的样子。同时把北城拆去，东西城也拆了一部分，另建了北城。现在的安定门外和蓟门桥附近，还有元大都土城的遗迹。第二，把土城改为砖城。元大都的土城虽然披上"蓑衣"，但苇帘子终不能抵挡雨水，所以在元朝一代，部分"城崩"的事经常发生，只在忽必烈时代的至元二十年到三十年之内，就"城崩"八次。每次修理，兴师动众，劳民伤财，所费不货。明朝改建的砖城也略呈梯形，下宽上窄，每行砖与每行砖之间，往上稍有凹进，以利雨水下流。第三，把元大都的十一门改为九门，南城三个门照旧，只把城门的名称改了，如文明门改为崇文门，直到今天。
　　到了公元1552年(明嘉靖三十一年)，为了防止北方少数民族的入侵，计划在整个北京城外，再建筑一道外城，结果困于财力物力，只在南城外筑成一条东西狭长的城墙，就是今天的东起广渠门、西到广宁门的外城，又叫罗城。这样一来，昔日北京城最南面的崇文门，就成为内城。街道店铺，住户人家，出人此门的官吏商人，日益增多。
　　清朝人关以后，在城建上沿袭明制。它为了调剂在京满人官吏的收入，"京师九门，皆有课税，而统于崇文一司"(见明史玄《旧京遗事》)。起初在《户部税则》中规定，行李不在纳税之列，"然而外吏人都，往往有应纳税之物，如续绸缎布等"。于是"征私钱以为免税之资"，甚至"虽无货亦征之矣"。关吏"又四出巡逻，得之指为漏税，加倍罚之"(以上均见《天咫偶闻》)。清朝陈康棋《郎潜纪闻》载："吴江陆中丞以山东布政使陛见，关吏(指崇文门税局)所索过奢，公实不能与，乃置衣被于外，携一仆前行，曰：'我有身耳，何税为!'既入，从故人借衾褥，事竣还之而去。"课税时，手续繁多，盘问备至，延误时日。一般小商贩，也须排队等候。天长日久，小商贩想出一个办法；根据自己货物多少，把税款插在帽沿上，走到关口，关吏取下银钱，立即放行。清人查嗣瑮曾有一首诗说："九门征课一门专，马迹车尘互接连。内使自取花担税，朝朝插鬓掠双钱。"这钱即归关吏私有。崇文门税局收入甚多，为了防止其他官吏忌妒，以"献鲜"为名，每年三月。向皇帝及大臣送黄花鱼，十月送冬笋和银鱼，成为变相的分赃。当时又规定城内不许开"烧锅"，凡外来酒类皆由官方指定的酒商出售，在祟文门指定了十八家，由它们统一收售，统一纳税，俗称"十八家酒店"。酒税是很重的，一般酿酒小作坊，为了维持生计，往往在夜间胸前挂着装满酒的猪尿脖，偷偷爬过城墙，以避交高税。这就是"背私酒"的。背私酒是非常辛苦和危险的。他们用脊背贴着城墙，用双脚和双手紧紧蹬着和扒着每行城砖微凸出的地方，一点一点往上"爬"，到了城上再用绳子把身体系下去。封建统治者的严重剥削，逼得人民九死一生地去谋取生路。所以当时称祟文税局是"鬼门关。
　　明末以来，崇文门外是比较热闹的，大小商贩，车水马龙。护城河水清滢，河上架有桥梁，河中游有画舫，两岸种着树木花草。绿柳迎风，红花邀月，秀丽非常。明人董喧有《夏日出文明门》诗："文明城外柳荫荫，百啭黄鹏送好音。行过御沟(护城河)回望处，凤凰楼阁五云深。"过桥不远为花儿市，"每月逢四日有市，日用及农器为多。其北四条胡同，则皆闺阁装饰所需，翠羽明珰，假花义髻之属，累累肆间"(见《天咫偶闻》)。沿护城河往东，为太平宫，俗称蟠桃宫，每年三月，"都人治酌呼从，联镳飞鞚，游览于此"，"人眠芳草地"，"箭洒(投壶游戏)绿杨坡"(见清初人潘荣陛《帝京岁时纪胜》)。清末人震钩也说"太平宫庙市最盛"，"地近河埂，了无市聒，春波泻绿，软土铺红，百戏竞陈，大堤入曲，衣香人影，摇扬春风，凡三里许"。冬天，护城河上又是一番风景："寒冬冰冻，以木作床，下镶钢条，一人在前引绳，可坐三四人，行冰如飞，名曰拖床。积雪残云，景更如画。冰上滑擦者，所著之履皆有铁齿，流行冰上，如星驰电掣，争先夺标取胜，名曰溜冰。都人于各护城河下，群聚滑擦，往还亦以拖床代步。更将拖床连接一处，治酌陈看于上，欢饮高歌，两三人牵引，便捷如飞。较之坐骥乘车，远胜多矣"(见《帝京岁时纪胜》)。后来护城河水日渐淤塞，清政府及民国军阀又不加倍浚，往日胜景，一去不返。崇文门到蟠桃宫的交通，则改为骑驴；驴识道，不乱走，不用人牵，到目的地自有驴将行人接去，绝无差误。这种情况，一直到解放前夕。
　　今天，崇文门城墙已经拆除，护城河水改为暗沟流通。沿着城墙墙址，地面上铺成宽阔清洁的柏油马路，车马行人，昼夜不息；马路两旁，高楼耸立，绣帘翠幕中住着万户人家。地下筑有环城铁路，四通八达，电掣风驰，每天吞吐着几十万人次。这里与七百年前的元大都时相比，那是天壤之别了。