Don't know where to go during the National Day holiday? "Roam Beijing" takes you on a tour!
"City Roam - Roam Beijing Cultural and Tourism Short Video Collection Activity" is hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and jointly organized by Beijing Time and Sina Travel. 20 award-winning excellent short videos recommend 20 tourist attractions, with beautiful scenery, national trend, performing arts, new scenes, and new formats.
New Ways to Explore Beautiful Scenery
1. Fujing Cultural Street
Fujing Cultural Street in Xicheng District, Beijing, was called "the most beautiful street in the world" by Lao She. It is 3.8 kilometers long, starting from Fuchengmen in the west and ending at Jingshan in the east. Many cultural relics from different periods are distributed along the route, such as Lu Xun's former residence, White Pagoda Temple, and Temple of Emperors of Past Dynasties. Today, tourists can drink craft beer or coffee while enjoying the night view of the White Pagoda, or take photos with the red walls of ginkgo leaves in autumn, and collect golden sentences and cultural and creative products at the Lu Xun Museum. The intensive cultural tour will surely bring you a rich harvest in the golden autumn.
2. Beijing WTown
From September 15th to October 30th this year is the "Red Leaf Festival of Chinese Style" of Beijing WTown. Tourists can enjoy an 80 yuan discount by wearing Hanfu to enter the park from October 16th to 22nd without reservation. Tourists can experience various folk cultures here. In the Yongshun Dyeing Workshop, you can learn traditional printing and dyeing techniques and carry out field operations. The Kite Culture Museum can make kites, and the Yinghua Academy can experience papermaking. There are also more small shops waiting to be explored. At sunset, take the cable car to climb the Simatai Great Wall and enjoy the beautiful sunset. When night falls, the starry town under the Great Wall will amaze everyone.
PS: For activity details, please see the "Beijing WTown Tourism" WeChat official account.
3. Pofengling Scenic Area
Fangshan has both magnificent scenery and profound humanistic charm. With the opening of the 2023 Beijing Xishan Folk Culture Festival, Fangshan's charm is more fully displayed. From September 28th to October 6th, there will be various exhibitions and game experiences at the entrance of Pofengling Scenic Area in Huangshandian Village, Fangshan, and the festive atmosphere will be in full swing. There is also a rich folk characteristic market on the old street of homestays, where you can meet familiar "historical figures" such as Jia Dao, Li Shizhen, and Xu Xiake who will "come out" from ancient books and meet you. For young people, in the intangible cultural heritage experience hall of the homestay old street, there is also an original script killing game based on Fangshan's historical and cultural background waiting for you to check in.
4. The Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture
The The Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture is the first national museum in China with a focus on gardens. Visitors can see displays of domestic and international garden history and current trends here. Pavilions, towers, small bridges, flowing water, blooming flowers, and swimming koi provide a taste of the elegance of southern gardens in northern China. The museum has excellent facilities for people with disabilities and for families with infants, making it a great destination for families.
5. Beijing Central Axis
As the longest and best-preserved traditional capital city central axis in China, the Beijing Central Axis is 7.8 kilometers long and represents the ultimate expression of traditional Chinese aesthetics. It is perfect for cycling, and visitors can explore 15 heritage sites along the central axis from morning until night, each with its own beautiful scenery and unique experiences. For example, the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum located in the Xiannong Altar has a stunning Tai Sui Hall coffered ceiling with six layers of exquisite carvings. Visitors can also plan their own "Central Axis Travel Route" based on their preferences, such as visiting bookstores, buildings, and local cuisine along the central axis.
PS: You can experience an online leap over the Beijing Central Axis and learn more about it on the official website.
New Discoveries of Chinese Style Scenery
1. Beijing Bell and Drum Towers
The Beijing Bell and Drum Towers are located at the northern end of the north-south central axis and served as the timekeeping center during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. As a group of tall and majestic "time buildings," they contain many historical and cultural contents. From September 29th to October 1st, the "Bell and Drum Time Garden Party" held, and the cultural and creative market, music performances, and stamp collection activities in the courtyard were free to the public. This time, limited-edition stamps with themes of the 24 solar terms were available, as well as the return of the popular "Red of Drum Tower" drink.
PS: The Drum Tower is closed for repairs from September 14th. The Bell Tower is open, and the opening hours during the repair period are adjusted to 09:30-16:30.
2. National Library Cultural and Creative Offline Experience Space
In addition to the vast sea of books, the National Library also has an experience space where visitors can bring the "golden house" from books back home. The souvenir area offers various cultural and creative products related to books and history, such as the recently launched Shan Hai Jing scroll, which contains more than ten stamps inspired by the National Library's collection of the Ming edition of Shan Hai Jing. The book cafe area also has surprises, with four new products named "Classics and History" that are full of profound meaning. There is also a parent-child reading area and other areas waiting for you to experience.
3. Caishikou Department Store Museum
Many people do not know that there is a hidden museum in the shopping mall, where you can admire gold up close and even touch giant gold blocks that even strongmen may not be able to lift. In addition, there are jewelry, jade, mineral crystals, and amber, which can be described as dazzling and stunning. There are also more than ten themed check-in points, such as the Shoushan stone carving "Man Han Quan Xi" and the interactive jade sand table, where visitors can appreciate the wonders of nature through sightseeing and interaction.
4. Han Meilin Art Museum
2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Beijing Olympics, and the mascot "Fuwa" left a deep impression on people. If you want to see those cute images again, you can visit the Han Meilin Art Museum in Tongzhou District, Beijing. There is a special Olympic Fuwa design unit here, presenting the process of Han Meilin designing Fuwa. During this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, the art museum launched the "Art Museum Citywalk" roaming guide, where visitors can participate in activities such as singing patriotic songs, printing double-color prints of the intangible cultural heritage "Yu Tu Zhe Gui", exchanging postcards, and taking photos with National Day characteristics.
PS: The art museum is by appointment only and admission is free. Please make a reservation on the "Han Meilin Art Museum" WeChat official account.
5. Beijing Print Guild Hall
Beijing Print Guild Hall is located in Qingyun Hutong on the banks of Sanlihe, built by Shanxi paint and tung oil merchants in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 400 years. The surrounding cafes, bookstores, and ancient buildings blend harmoniously together, and the strong performance atmosphere of the guild makes it a new trendy check-in spot in Beijing. Beijing Print Guild Hall not only has plays, but also afternoon tea, and new Beijing cuisine. Visitors can sit in the ancient courtyard and taste the colorful delicacies while listening to the opera tunes that have spanned hundreds of years.
New Cultural Landmarks
1. Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre
Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre was built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and is known as the "living fossil of Chinese theaters". It has been reopened for a year since 2022. Today, the historical culture here and the boutique performances complement each other, featuring not only classic opera works but also modern art expressions. There are not only plays, but also folk music, dance, and Western music.
PS: For more performance information, please see the "正乙祠戏楼重启" (Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre) WeChat official account.
2. Beijing Tianqiao Art Center
As the only cultural and artistic complex on the central axis of the capital, visitors can enjoy high-quality performances here, such as dramas, concerts, and dances. There are also rich exhibitions and art education activities, such as photography exhibitions, sculpture exhibitions, calligraphy competitions, music lectures, etc. The products in the cultural and creative shops are closely related to theatrical arts. Audiences can purchase ticket holders for collecting performance tickets, notebooks for writing experiences, and more drama-related products for "theatre fans" to explore. The 7th Lao She Theatre Festival and the annual Tianqiao Musical Festival are also underway, providing more activities for everyone to participate in.
3. Lao She Teahouse
Lao She Teahouse was founded in 1988, and its predecessor can be traced back to Qianmen Big Bowl Tea in 1979. It now combines Beijing-style tea culture, opera culture, and catering culture. At the door of the Qianmen store, you can drink a big bowl of tea for two cents, which has maintained the same price for many years and is very affordable. If you want to taste higher-quality Beijing-style tea, you can go to the second floor. If you still want to watch a show, the performances on the third floor are wonderful. The Beijing-style variety show "Four Seasons Beijing · Tea" includes folk skills such as Han lantern drum and hand shadow puppetry; the "Cross Talk Special" allows tourists to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese comic dialogues.
4. China National Film Museum
As the largest national-level professional film museum in the world and the largest film screen in Beijing, this young museum has attracted more and more people to visit. Here, you can fully understand the history of film development through more than a dozen exhibition halls, and you can also buy a ticket for the giant screen theater to experience unprecedented visual impact. What is even more amazing is the super large surround screen in the central hall, which allows you to watch the changing seasons and travel in the "deep sea".
5. National Centre for the Performing Arts
Many tourists exclaim, "Before leaving Beijing, you must come to the National Centre for the Performing Arts for a photo." The reason why it is so popular is that it is a perfect combination of Beijing's art and architecture. It is not only a place to watch performances and concerts, but also an excellent location for taking visual masterpieces. The movie-like rotating staircase and transparent glass curtain wall have inspired many netizens to give their own shooting suggestions on social platforms. In addition, the National Centre for the Performing Arts also regularly holds various exhibitions, salons, and lectures, with rich activities.
New Consumption Experiences
1. Liangma River International Customs Waterfront
As a popular spot for night tours in Beijing, the Liangma River International Customs Waterfront has prepared a detailed guide for visitors. It combines boat tours, light and shadow bridge experiences, cultural space enhancements on both sides, and themed light shows, allowing tourists to deeply experience the international style of the city. At 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, the Liangma River boat tour offers afternoon tea service. It is an unmissable urban leisure experience to take a boat ride, enjoy the breeze, taste fragrant tea, and try desserts along the way.
PS: For details, please follow the "亮马河国际风情水岸" (Liangma River International Customs Waterfront) WeChat official account.
2. Visionland
Visionland is a comprehensive space-themed scenic spot with a space and technology culture theme. From the sci-fi "Guardians of the Galaxy" to the anthropomorphic cartoon "Pet Adventure"; from the thrilling "Star Harbor Flight" to the high-speed "Treasure Speed", various interactive experience projects allow tourists to deeply feel the development of space and technology.
3. Manzuo Bookstore
The Manzuo Bookstore is unique, compared to other booktores. You can order a cup of coffee here, read a book, and feel the atmosphere of the Republic of China. You can also invite three to five friends, or spontaneously join a small team on the spot, take the whole street as a stage, go back to 1948, participate in a real historical event from the perspective of the most ordinary people at that time, and experience a little-known story. In the immersive script killing experience of the Slow Sit Bookstore, you can wear Republic of China costumes, interact with different NPCs, and make choices with your partners in the tranquility of Beijing before liberation.
4. Yee Coffee
If there is a unique coffee shop in Beijing with an unparalleled environment, it is Yee Coffee located on the west side of Kunming Lake in the Gengzhitu scenic area of the Summer Palace. The environment here is quiet and peaceful, with natural surroundings and ancient architecture complementing each other, and festive decorations added during the holidays. If you get tired from wandering around the scenic area, you can choose to rest on the indoor couches of the café or enjoy the outdoor view. Order Yee Coffee's specialty desserts and coffee to enjoy a rare daily experience in the royal garden. The coffee is served in a lidded bowl, combining Eastern and Western cultures for a unique flavor.
5. Beijing Daxing International Airport
Although you can't wait for a boat at the airport, you can wait for a huge "starfish". The exterior of Beijing Daxing International Airport is a combination of technology and art, and the interior is also full of surprises. Before going through security, you can get a stamp at the information desk or purchase special postal products at the China Post counter. After security, you can participate in a "treasure hunt" at the information desk and receive gifts from Daxing Airport. The airport also has a branch of the Capital Library, where you can read, work, and charge your devices in a quiet and bookish environment. There is also a children's reading area for parents to rest.
Scan the QR code, you can access the "Roam Beijing Excellent Short Video Exhibition" special page.
Welcome to watch video introductions of 20 locations.
