BJ-T07: Beijing Day Tour to Niujie Mosque & Liulichang

Fayuan Temple - Niujie Mosque -Taoranting Park - Liulichang Cultural Street

 This is a guided tour by eco-friendly public transport. If you need a private car, feel free to contact our travel consultants to arrange it for you.

Today, after meeting you at the agreed time and place, our guide will lead you to Fayuan Temple wasting no time, either by city bus or subway after calculating the time needed.

Considering the not very long distance between and not so close bus stops, the guide will escort you to Niujie Mosque by walk from Famen Temple. The total walking distance is about 920 meters (1,000 yards) and it takes about 15 minutes to cover it. First, walk westward along Fayuansi Qian Street and turn left to Jiaozi Hutong, after reaching the crossing, turn left to walk westward along Nanhengxi Street till reaching Niujie Street, and then walk northward along it to find the Ox Mosque.

Niujie Mosque is the largest, oldest and best-preserved Islamic building in Beijing, firstly built during the Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125). It has traditional Islamic decorations inside but the exterior follows the architectural style of classical Chinese palaces.

  Travel Tip: Make sure you wear proper clothes. Visitors wearing shorts, skirts, vests, and slippers are not allowed to enter the mosque.
  Admission fee: CNY10
  Open time: 08:00-16:00

Around the Niujie Mosque, there are many restaurants providing Chinese and Muslim food. The beef and mutton dishes there are very worth trying. If needed, the guide will assist you to choose one and help you with the order.

Then, the guide will lead you to take city bus no. Zhuan 13 to the east gate of Taoranting Park, its only gate open to overseas tourists. The bus ride will take about 25 minutes or so. 

Various traditional architectures are scattered in the Taoranting Park, especially replicas of those famous pavilions throughout the country. In addition, you will have chances to appreciate colorful flowers, including cherry blossoms in late March, peonies in middle to late April, and Chinese roses from middle April to middle October. If interested, you can also enjoy a boat cruise at your own cost. The guide will show you around clockwise or anti-clockwise and end at its east gate, too. 

 Admission fee: CNY2
 Open Time: April - October: 06:00 - 22:00; November - March: 06:00 - 21:30

From the east gate of the Taoranting Park, a direct ride by bus no. 14 or 66 will send you to Liulichang Cultural Street 4 stops away. The guide will accompany you all the way there. 

Liulichang has been a prosperous cultural block in Beijing since the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and it is separated by South Xinhua Street into eastern and western segments. It is brimming with workshops and stores of calligraphies, paintings, ink stones, and ink brushes. Some time-honored brands still stand along the street selling their special products as yet.

At the end of the day, the guide will accompany you back to your hotel. The subway will be preferred, for two subway stations, Hufangqiao of line 7 and Hepingmen of line 2 are within the walking distance from Liulichang, about 500-600 meters (550-660 yards) away. If the city bus is more convenient, then it will be the choice. The buses stopping by at the Liulichang Bus Stop include 14, 66 and 70.