Three Lanes and Seven Alleys originated in the Jin Dynasty, took shape during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, was refined in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the most representative historical and cultural neighborhood in Fuzhou and one of the largest, best-preserved historical districts in China, renowned as the "living fossil of the li-fang system" and the "Ming and Qing architectural museum.".