Many tourists are returning to a simple travel lifestyle and enjoying a slow-paced way of traveling. The new type of travel represented by "Citywalk" is becoming more and more popular. In Beijing, a Citywalk travel craze has also begun. Don't miss these streets and alleys full of artistic style.

01 Yangmeizhu Xiejie - Beijing Fun

Yangmeizhu Xiejie

Yangmeizhu Xiejie is located in the Dashilan Street area of Xicheng District. It gradually formed since the construction of Beijing City in the Yuan Dynasty, starting from Meishi Street in the east and extending to Yanshou Street in the west.

The current Yangmeizhu Xiejie incorporates new cultural elements while retaining tradition, with shops such as the Old Beijing Tuer Ye Shop, Suzuki Cafeteria, Xiejie No. 8 Cafe, Norman Grocery Store, and Song Family Calligraphy and Painting. With unique and characteristic small shops appearing one after another, the artistic atmosphere of the entire street gradually becomes stronger, attracting many tourists to come and take photos.

Address: Yangmeizhu Xiejie, Xicheng District, Beijing

Beijing Fun

Coming out of the east entrance of Yangmeizhu Xiejie and walking north, you will arrive at Beijing Fun. The overall architectural style here continues the characteristics of the Republic of China architecture, with many artistic elements such as coffee, wine, tea, books, and fragrances scattered among the antique buildings. Here, history and modernity coexist, and Chinese and foreign cultures blend together, giving people a unique cultural atmosphere.

PAGEONE Beijing Fun Store is one of the popular bookstores in Beijing, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a landscape terrace. On the second floor of the bookstore, you can enjoy beautiful views of Zhengyang Gate Arrow Tower, Qianmen Pedestrian Street, and other places through the glass windows. On clear days, you can also see the Forbidden City and the farther Beihai White Pagoda, giving people a different view of the city's beauty.

Address: No. 17 Langfangtou Street, Meishi Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

02 Xi Damochang Street - Dongjiaomin Xiang

Xi Damochang Street

Xi Damochang Street has been one of Beijing's famous commercial streets since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This street was first formed in the Ming Dynasty and was initially related to the stonemasons from the suburbs of Beijing.

In the past, various merchants and wealthy families gathered in the Qianmen area, each owning large grinding discs, stone mills, and sharpening stones. The stonemasons relied on the skills passed down from their ancestors to establish grinding workshops and stone polishing factories of various sizes here. As a result, the name "Damochang Street" with its commercial characteristics of the times was left behind. At its peak, Xi Damochang Street was once known as one of the "Four Major Commercial Streets Outside Qianmen" along with Xihexian, Xianyukou, and Dashilan.

Address: Xi Damochang Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Dongjiaomin Xiang

Dongjiaomin Xiang starts from Chongwenmen Inner Street in the east and ends at the east side road of Tiananmen Square, with a total length of about 1.6 kilometers. It is a European-style block that integrates embassies, churches, banks, official residences, and clubs. It has the only surviving Western-style architecture complex in Beijing in the early 20th century - the Dongjiaomin Xiang Embassy Architecture Complex, which is a place with a strong historical and cultural atmosphere.

Red-topped small western-style buildings, western-style gatehouses, Gothic-style churches with stained glass windows and angel statues... Walking in Dongjiaomin Xiang, every building is a scenery, every step is history.

Address: Dongjiaomin Xiang, Dongcheng District, Beijing

03 Shichahai - Bell and Drum Tower

Shichahai

In the scenic area of Shichahai in the hot summer, lotus leaves fill the pond, green willows brush the embankment, and the scenery is beautiful and unique. Walking along the lake shore, there are small courtyards with blue bricks and gray tiles on the roadside, and red flowers and green branches are hidden among the pavilions and towers. Occasionally, a man-powered tricycle "ding-dang" passes by, quiet and agile.

In addition to natural scenery, many celebrities' former residences are also located in the Shichahai scenic area. Here, humanities and nature complement each other, and you can fully experience the cultural heritage of old Beijing.

Address: No. 49, Xidanmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

Bell and Drum Tower

Coming out of the east side of the Shichahai scenic area, you will come to Wanning Bridge. This bridge spans the intersection of Beijing's central axis and the Yuhou section of the Grand Canal and has stood for more than 700 years. Since its construction in the Yuan Dynasty, Wanning Bridge has always carried the important function of north-south transportation and is an ancient bridge with important historical significance. Picture

After passing Wanning Bridge, you will arrive at the Bell and Drum Towers by heading north on Di'anmen Outer Street. These two ancient "time buildings" face each other from the north and south, echoing the ancient capital for centuries. The evening drums and morning bells that were struck here once reverberated over the ancient city, engraving the time order of the ancients. When you come here, you might as well put on your headphones and listen to the song "Drum Tower". In the lyrical and romantic singing, climb the Drum Tower, overlook the surrounding hutongs, and gaze at the distant Jing Shan, savoring the taste of old Beijing in the ancient architecture. This is a place where you can feel the historical and cultural heritage.

Address: No. 9 Linzi, Zhonglouwan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

04 Guozijian Street - Wudaoying Hutong

Guozijian Street

Beijing Guozijian Street starts from Yonghegong Inner Street in the east and ends at Andingmen Inner Street in the west, with a total length of 669 meters. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty once praised: "The capital is the best area, and the Guozijian is the best place."

Guozijian Street has both the ancient and solemn atmosphere of the old city and the peaceful tranquility of the hutongs. With its elegant environment and rich historical and cultural connotations, it has developed into a unique cultural scenic area in Beijing, attracting countless tourists to stop and admire.

Address: Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Wudaoying Hutong

Wudaoying Hutong extends west to Andingmen Inner Street and eastward to the red walls of Yonghe Temple. Wudaoying Hutong has attracted many interesting shops, including independent designer brand stores, boutique coffee shops, and of course, stylish restaurants.

These exquisitely decorated small shops and the old Beijing elements in the hutongs, such as gray tiles, red doors, door pillars, bicycles, bird cages, and pigeon whistles, blend together, exuding a modern artistic atmosphere in traditional charm.

As night falls, Wudaoying Hutong sheds the hustle and bustle of the day and begins to show a calm and warm atmosphere in the night. Young people walking together here "start early and finish late", laughing and chatting. Wudaoying Hutong is telling a new story of the old hutongs in a different style.

Address: Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing.