Beijing, a city with a history spanning 1,000 years, is home to hundreds of streets with various characteristics, all showing us the attractiveness of the Chinese capital. There are 10 that are very representative and have always been destinations for tourists home and abroad.

Liulichang Culture Street

Address: Xuanwu District

During the Yuan (1271-1368) and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), glass furnaces, or Liulichang in Chinese, were established in this street, hence its name. Antique dealers started their business here from early days of the Qing Dynasty. By the rein of Emperor Qianlong (1735-1795), the street had become a trade center for antiques. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, many book and antique businesses set up shops there, including Rongbaozhai, a world-famous Chinese antique store. The street was renovated in 1982, which restored its classic flavor.

Along the street are more than 100 shops, covering a wide range of products and services, including calligraphy, paintings, rare metals and stones, pottery and porcelain, Wenfangsibao (Four pieces of stationery, including writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), jewellery, musical instruments, rubbings from stone inscription, antique copies, antique packing and restoration, lanterns and blankets.

Means of transportation: Bus 7/70/14/15, get off at Liulichang Station

Shichahai Bar Street

Address: Xicheng District

Lively city center, wine, ancient courtyard, fashionable life… You can experience everything you want in Shichahai Bar Street. People come here not only to enjoy drinking, but also to refresh themselves from their busy lives. Many bars are especially decorated to attract customers.

But the most attractive thing about Shichahai Bar Street is on Yinding Bridge, where you will be intoxicated with melodious erhu (a traditional Chinese musical instrument) music, beautiful lanterns and charming girls on the boats nearby.

Means of transportation: Bus 210/5, get off at Zhuzhongchang Station; Bus 55, get off at Deshangmennei Station; Bus 635, get off at Deneiganshuiqiao Station

South Luogu Lane

Address: between East Gulou Street and East Di’anmen Street, Dongcheng District

Built in the Yuan Dynasty, South Luogu Lane still maintains its original layout today. With eight branch lanes lying symmetrically on either side of the 800-meter-long lane, it resembles a centipede if looked at from above. Hence it is known as “Centipede Street” (or Wu Gong Jie in Chinese) as well.

When you open the thick wooden gate, a broad and bright quadrangle will jump into your eyes, with talking, laughter, whispers, warbles surrounding you. Such bars with a plain exterior and an amazing interior can be found all along South Luogu Lane. It just conforms to the quiet atmosphere here.

Besides bars, you can also find nostalgic business elements spread all along South Luogu Lane, such as the groceries with a decoration style of 1980’s, and the clean and economical youth hostels. In a word, South Luogu Lane is a perfect choice for both tired tourists who need a short break, and people who want only to kill the time.

Means of transportation: Bus 823/850/13/118, get off at luoguxiang Station

Maliandao Tea Street

Address: south to Xi’anmen Outer street, Xicheng District

Not far south from Beijing West Railway Station is Maliandao, also known as “the premier tea street in Beijing.” This 1,500-meter-long street is home to over 100 tea shops and five tea trade centers, with quality tea from all around the country. The tea business here creates an annual sales volume of one billion yuan, accounting for 1/10 of the national consumption.

There was once only one tea processing factory in Maliandao. In recent years, however, businessmen from tea producing areas have started their operation here, making Maliandao a famous “tea street.” Although tea business has just begun, it has developed into quite a large scale. Maliandao now is biggest tea market not only in Beijing, but also among North China.

Means of transportation: Bus 46/414/609, get off at Maliandaoxili Station

Wangfujing Pedestrian Street

Address: north to Chang’an Avenue, Dongcheng District

East to Tian’anmen, Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is a north-south street of over 1,800 meters long. Today it has become a lively comprehensive commercial pedestrian street.

Wangfujing Pedestrian Street received the so-called “golden cross” layout after renovation. The crossroad of Jinyu Hutong is designed as the center, with the hotel street in the east, the food street in the west, the shopping street in the south, and the culture street in the north.

The most famous commercial street in Beijing, Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is home to China’s biggest crafts shop, Xinhua Bookstore, Foreign Language Bookstore and photo studio. There are also many time-honored and characteristic shops.

Means of transportation: Bus 210/103/104/211, get off at Dengshixikou Station; Subway line 1, get off at Wangfujing Station

Wangfujing Snack Street

Address: Dongcheng District

Beijing is home to a wide variety of snacks. And nearly 100 kinds of snacks from different ethnic groups can be found along Wangfujing Snack Street.

Two snacks come particularly recommended. One is fried insects like scorpions and locusts, looking horrible but tasting delicious. The other is Bingtanghulu (candied haws on a stick), made from hawthorns, oranges, strawberries and some other fresh fruits.

Means of transportation: Bus 210/103/104/211, get off at Dengshixikou Station; Subway line 1, exit at Wangfujing Station

Dashilan and Qianmen Street

Address: Chongwen District

Situated on the south axis of Beijing, Qianmen Street, known as Tian Jie (Heavenly Street)as well, has a history of over 570 years. Ancient style and modern business are perfectly integrated thanks to the renovation. All the time-honoured shops like Quanjude (the most renowned Peking Duck restaurant) have returned. Moreover, over 20 world-famous brands have decided to set up stores here, including Apple, Starbuck, etc.

After the renovation, some ingrained elements in the memory of Beijing natives have once again appeared, such as the old street lamps modelled on bird cages, Bingtanghulu, etc., the green and white road surface and the Dangdangche (a kind of streetcar).

Means of transportation: Bus 20/203/59/5/66, get off at Qianmen Station; Subway Line 2, get off at Qianmen Station

East Gulou Street

Address: between Andingmen Inner Street and Di’anmen Inner Street, Dongcheng District

Over recent years, East Gulou Street has gradually become home to video game and cartoon stores. There are totally 36 such stores along the street. It is not only famous in Beijing, but also attracts business from outside the city

Besides video game and cartoon stores, 16 musical instrument shops are also intensely spread along East Gulou Street.

Means of transportation: Bus 204 (inner ring)/107/635/124, get off at Chaohutong Statio

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Address: southwest to Panjiayuan Bridge, Chaoyang District

Panjiayuan Antique Market covers 485,000 m2, divided into six different areas. Customers can find abundant antiques, crafts, collections and decorations here. Established in 1992, with the rise of the trade of folk antiques and crafts, it has now grown into a large-scale antique market which also serves to disseminate traditional Chinese culture.

Panjiayuan Antique Market is the most popular in China. At weekends, the customer flow volume can reach 60 to 70 thousand, a large part of which are foreigners. Tens of foreign leaders have ever visited and shopped in the market, including the former US first lady Hilary Clinton, US House Speaker and Thai Princess.

Panjiayuan Antique Market is also the biggest trade centre for folk crafts, which are collected here from all over China and are sold to the world from here as well.

Means of transportation: Bus 800 (outer ring)/36/34/434, get off at Jinsongnanluxikou Station

Sanlitun Bar Street

Address: Chaoyang District

The 260-meter-long Sanlitun Bar Street covers 1,648 m2. It is the earliest bar cluster in Beijing. The very first bar was established in South Sanlitun, while North Sanlitun Street is the most famous nowadays.

As North Sanlitun Street is adjacent to 79 foreign embassies, foreigners are frequenters of the bars. In recent years, more local employees, entertainers and tourists have also been frequenting the bars here.

Means of transportation: 1. Subway Line 2, get off at Dongsishitiaao Station; 2. Bus 113, get off at Gongrentiyuchangbeimen Station