A Day South of Tian’an Men Square
Morning
Start on Tian’an Men Square, at the southeast corner beside the stripey brick Old Qian Men Railway Station,
built by the British in 1901, partly to bring military forces straight
to the assistance of foreigners in the event of a repeat of the siege of
the Boxers. It’s now a shopping mall and Beijing Opera theater. Venture east along Dong Jiao Min Xiang into the Foreign Legation to visit the Police Museum. On leaving head south to main Qian Men Dong Dajie and walk back west for a glimpse of the Beijing of the future at the Urban Planning Museum. From the museum, it is a short walk south into the hutongs for a fowl lunch at the legendary
Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant
.
Afternoon
After eating, if you walk south you’ll hit main Xianyukou Jie, which, followed west, becomes Dazhalan Jie. This is a great place for specialty shops. Located down the first alley on the left is century-old Liubiju, selling a vast array of pickles. Ruifuxiang, on the north side of Dazhalan, dates from 1893 and is renowned for silks. Tongrentang Pharmacy has been in business since 1669, while Zhangyiyuan Chazhuang has been trading teas since the early 20th century. At the end of Dazhalan, head north up Nan Xinhua Jie to the Ji Gu Ge Teahouse, to sample more teas in an atmospheric setting.
Shops
Hong Qiao Market
Specializing in pearls and precious stones, this vast indoor market also sells clothes, bags, and shoes .
36 Hong Qiao Lu
Open 10am–7pm daily
Hong Qiao Market
Liulichang
Picturesque
street renovated in the 1980s to give it that Old China look, but still
fun to browse for antiques and art supplies (see Qian Men, Dazhalan & Liulichang).
Tongrentang Pharmacy
Founded
in 1669, Tongrentang is China’s oldest pharmacy. The store stocks
thousands of traditional medicines, some of which were used in the
imperial court.
Ruifuxiang
Silk has been sold on this precise spot since 1893. Tailors can make blouses and qipaos (the old-style Chinese dress).
Panjiayuan Antique Market
Set
the alarm for dawn for a treasure hunt down at Beijing’s sprawling flea
market, where anything and everything turns up eventually.
Beijing Curio City
Just
south of Panjiayuan, Curio City has four levels packed with antiques,
porcelain, carpets, Buddhist statues, jewelry, and furniture.
21 Dong San Huan Nan Lu
6774 7711
Subway: Jinsong
Open 10am–7pm daily
Neiliansheng
Beijing’s best known shoe store, in business since 1853. Infamous for supplying footwear to Chairman Mao.
Beijing Silk Store
Venerable store said to date back to 1840. Prices for quality tailoring, ready-made clothes, and fine cloths are reasonable.
Beijing Silk Store
Yuanlong Silk Company
Hugely popular multi-story emporium specializing in all things silken.
15 Yongding Men Dong Jie
6702 2288
Liubiju
A jar of Chinese pickles may not be high on your list of essentials, but a visit to this colorful, 400-year-old shop should be.
NOTE
Most shops, markets, and malls tend to be open approximately 9am–9pm daily.
