The route is 1.3 kilometers long and includes six scenic alleyways: Zhongku Hutong, Lingdang Hutong, Caochangbei Xiang, the eastern section of Zhonglouwan Hutong, Doufuchi Hutong, and Yuge Hutong. As you walk through the hutongs surrounding the Bell Tower, you can experience the rich historical atmosphere of ancient Beijing. Along the way, there are many famous landmarks to visit, such as the Andingmen Old Objects Exhibition Room, the Bell and Drum Towers of Beijing, and Hong'en Temple.
Andingmen Old Objects Exhibition Room
The Andingmen Old Objects Exhibition Room is located at No. 4, Lingdang Hutong, Jiugulou Dajie (St) in Dongcheng, Beijing. It is a museum established by the Andingmen Subdistrict to showcase old Beijing artifacts.
The exhibition room opened on July 22, 2008, and through over 300 items, it introduces aspects of old Beijing life, such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation. The museum offers free admission year-round. Since its opening, it has also served as a traditional cultural education base for local youth in the Andingmen area.
The exhibition space covers more than 50 square meters and is arranged to resemble the guest room of an old Beijing home. The entire collection has been provided by the family of Song Zhenzhong, a dedicated collector of Beijing folk artifacts. Between 1981 and the museum's opening, Song Zhenzhong collected over 15,000 items related to old Beijing, including clothing, percussion instruments, pot warmers, coins, food boxes, irons, door frames, tables, mirrors, thread boards, Guapi Mao (melon skin hats), kitchenware, and more. Most of the items are displayed in glass cases, and none of the cases are locked, allowing visitors to freely touch the artifacts. Objects like clay bowls, three-inch golden lotus embroidered shoes, and Shuitunr (kettles) are best appreciated by handling them to feel their intricate craftsmanship. Visitors can also try on traditional Beijing clothing and take photographs as a keepsake.
Bell and Drum Towers
Being the landmarks of the northern end of Beijing Central Axis in the commercial district of the old city, the Bell and Drum Towers, together with the Tian'anmen Gate, the Upright Gate and the Forbidden City, form a paradigm of the imperial court area of capital city planning, embodying "court in the front, market in the back" as prescribed in the Kaogongji. The magnificent statures of the Bell and Drum Towers contrast with the surrounding low-lying residential buildings with their gray walls and tiled roofs, presenting an important viewpoint of Beijing Central Axis. The towers were significant city management facilities for time keeping and announcing the time during the Ming and Qing dynasties, bearing witness to the traditional way of life.
Hong'en Temple
Hong'en Temple, located just north of the Bell Tower on Beijing's central axis, was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty (Yuan Zhen era), over 700 years ago. After multiple restorations, the temple has been revitalized and transformed into "The Guàn" — a Central Axis Cultural Museum. It is now open to the public by appointment, becoming a new cultural and urban landmark along Beijing's central axis.
Upon entering the temple, visitors are greeted by the main building, the Dijun Hall (Emperor's Hall). The hall has been repurposed as the Guàn·Shu Dian, a comprehensive reading space offering book collections, cultural exchanges, and creative services. On the east side of the temple, the first Beijing Central Axis-themed post office opened earlier this year, offering a variety of postal and creative products featuring central axis elements, attracting visitors to experience the cultural charm of the area. The temple also hosts exhibitions such as the "Wuhua Zhijue" digital art exhibition and Hong'en Temple: A Story of a Beijing Temple, which together provide a rich cultural experience through various forms of art and storytelling.
