Jinzhongdu Park

Beijing has stood as a city for 3,000 years, and for 800 years it has played the role of the capital. It first became the capital city of the Jin Dynasty 870 years ago (1153), when the emperor then decided to move the capital from Shangjing (the current Acheng in Heilongjiang Province) to Beijing, which lies to the south of the former capital. Upon becoming the new imperial capital, the city was renamed “Zhongdu”, or the central capital, and began a new chapter in history.

Jinzhongdu was reconstructed on the site of Nanjing of the Liao Dynasty (907-1125). The walls on the east, west and south were expanded, and the palace city and the imperial city were designed and built following the layout of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). On each side of the city wall there were three gates, with an additional gate on the eastern part of the north wall. Here are the approximate locations of the four corners of the city: the southwest corner lies to the southwest of the Fenghuangzui Village in Fengtai District; the northwest corner lies at Huangtingzi to the south of the Military Museum of Chinese People’s Revolution; the northeast corner lies at the Nancuihuajie (Ave) inside Xuanwumen; and the southeast corner lies at Silutong to the east of the Beijing South Railway Station. Both the imperial and the palace cities are located in the present-day Xicheng District. The Jinzhongdu Park was built upon the ruins of the Jinzhongdu city walls, between the site of the southern gate of the imperial city and Xuanyangmen.

The park, which stretches from south to north, features five major scenic spots: the Watch Tower, Capital Construction, Jin People’s Nomadic Life, Main Entrance Plaza, and Xuanyang Post Station. All over the park there are lush trees, blooming flowers, flowing water and buildings with an antique charm. Together with the pavilions and the pathways, they make a picturesque view reminiscent of Jiangnan, or the South of the Yangtze River. Visitors can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also learn about the history of Beijing as an ancient capital and experience its rich historical and cultural heritage up close.

Address: 64, Guang’anmen Nanjie(Ave South), Xicheng District, Beijing

Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum

Opened in August 2022, the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum is dedicated to introducing the art of lacquer inlay decoration techniques, which is a national intangible cultural heritage project. It is a place where visitors can go sightseeing, learn about and get hands-on experience in the traditional Chinese arts and crafts.

The museum houses over 300 pieces (sets) of lacquer inlay tools, drawings, and masterpieces of various crafts, including carving, painting, inlaying, and engraving, as well as contemporary masterworks, ethnic lacquerware, and national gifts.

Considered a “national treasure” and one of the “eight wonders of Yanjing” by the Beijing arts and crafts community, Beijing lacquer inlay is a significant category of the traditional Chinese lacquerware. It inherits and develops the teacher-apprentice system, techniques, and artistic style of the courtroom arts in the Ming  (1368-1644) and the Qing(1644-1912) Dynasties. It features a Beijing style which is antique, elegant, stately, luxurious, and rich in variations.

The museum appeals to visitors of all ages. It offers activities including making lacquer fans, stamping and making handmade bags. The bag-making process is designed and developed by lacquer inlay master Hu Xin, in which visitors can fully experience the lacquer inlay craftsmanship.

Address: 40, Hongsi Village, Xiaohongmen Township, Chaoyang District, Beijing

 Beijing Art Museum

The Beijing Art Museum is a comprehensive art museum located in the Wanshou Temple, an ancient temple dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It houses over 120,000 cultural relics, including court embroideries, calligraphy, paintings, ceramics, jade, bamboo, wood, ivory and horn carvings, coins, and furniture. While the relics date between the prehistoric times and the period of the Republic of China (1912-1949), a considerable amount of them are made in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The museum provides permanent exhibitions  on the history of the Wanshou Temple, the history of the making of Buddhist Statues, the Jishou (auspiciousness and longevity) cultural relics, as well as traditional Chinese furniture.

Among the temporary exhibitions, “The Scholarly Artifacts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties”, which runs until May 10, 2024, features over 200 artifacts. Visitors can admire their beauty, their texture and the exquisite craftsmanship from close-up, which offer a glimpse into the refined life and artistic tastes of ancient Chinese literati. In another exhibition,  over 250 ancient coins are on display, including more than 20 rare pieces. It is the museum’s first exhibition of this kind, and the exhibition runs until March 30, 2025. It provides a brief introduction of the history of coin-making in China, which has witnessed the integration of various cultures across different eras. It also showcases the art of coin-making by introducing the calligraphy, decorations on the coins and the shapes of coins, all of which embody the pursuit of a prosperous and peaceful life by ancient Chinese people.

Address: Wanshou Temple, Xi 3 Huan Beilu（W. 3rd Ring Rd North), Haidian District, Beijing

Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum

The Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum is built on the site of the Zhenjue Temple, which was made in the Ming Dynasty during Emperor Yongle’s reign(1403-1424). The temple is also known as the Wuta Temple because of the five pagodas on the vajrasana within the temple.

Established in October 1987, the museum has a collection of over 2,600 stone artifacts from Beijing, including steles, epitaphs, statues, stone pillars, stone carvings, and building components. These artifacts serve as significant materials for the study of the local history of Beijing.

Entering the museum through the main gate, visitors are greeted by two lush ginkgo trees and the vajrasana. The latter is the earliest and best-preserved one of its kind in China, and thus, has immense historical and artistic value. The vajrasana is a brick and stone structure with no beams inside, which contributes to its extraordinary load-bearing capacity. It consists of a lower base and five small pagodas above, all of which are intricately carved.

In the back hall there is an exhibition on the history of stone carving, where one can see the  the earliest stone carvings in Beijing, which were made in the Han Dynasty(25-220) and have a history of over 1,900 years. Besides, the Chinese characters on them are the earliest ones to be carved in relief on stones, and are considered the finest examples of clerical script in the Han Dynasty.

Address: 24, Wutasi Village, Haidian District, Beijing

Moshikou Historical and Cultural Block

Moshikou, once a crucial town in western Beijing and a military stronghold, has been famous since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has been known as “Moshikou” since 1433 and has for hundreds and thousands of years served as a bustling trading route between the capital and the outer regions, well-known due to Lao She’s novel “Camel Xiangzi”. Stretching 1,500 meters from east to west, the Moshikou Street resembles a Chinese dragon in its shape.

The current Moshikou Street is a combination of the ancient and the modern. Themed bookstores, boutique cafes, specialty restaurants, exquisite quadrangles, and cultural and creative shops can be seen along the street. Art installations, graffiti, and other decorations on the street breathe new life into the Moshikou Street.

The Moshikou Historical and Cultural Block is home to a number of historical sites, including the Fahai Temple, the China Quaternary Glacial Vestige Exhibition Hall, the Cheng’en Temple (the Beijing Eight Imperial Palace Handicrafts Museum), and the Shijingshan District Stone Carving Relics Park. It also boasts 15 scenic spots, 29 exquisite courtyards, and hundreds of stores along the street. The ancient and the modern blends seamlessly into each other. As visitors explore the cluster of museums in this area, they can immerse themselves in local history and culture while enjoying the artistic ambiance, cafes, specialty restaurants, traditional quadrangles, cultural stores, and street art. It’s the perfect place to experience the authentic lifestyle of western Beijing.

Address: 80, Moshikou Street, Shijingshan District, Beijing