BJ-BK01: Beijing City Center Bike Tour

This Beijing biking tour guides you to cycle along the city center. On the way, you will pass by Wangfujing, one of the most prosperous shopping areas in the city; Tian’anmen Square in the very city center with many important and memorial buildings standing on; Forbidden City, the world’s largest imperial palace, etc. Through the biking, you will have a general understanding of the past and present of the city. 

Oriental Square in the south of Wangfujing Street – East Chang’an Avenue – Circle Tian’anmen Square – West Chang’an Avenue – alongside the west wall of Forbidden City – Jingshan Qianjie Street and Wusi Street – northern end of Wangfujing Street
Distance: about 7.5 km (4.5 mi)

You are recommended to start from the Oriental Square in the south of Wangfujing Street, then ride westwards along the Chang'an Avenue. This wide and clean road with lush mature trees on both sides is the east-west axis of Beijing. It is divided into West Chang’an Avenue and East Chang’an Avenue by Tian’anmen Square. 

After reaching Tian’anmen Square, turn left to cycle around it, along East Tian’anmen Square Road, East Qianmen Street, West Tian’anmen Square Road and then back to Chang'an Avenue. On the way, you will pass by National Museum of China, Monument to the People's Heroes, Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, Qianmen Gate, and Great Hall of the People which functions as China's parliament building. 

Please note that it is not allowed to cycle on the Tian’anmen Square. If you would like to visit it at a close distance, park your bike properly at first. 

Continue riding westwards along Chang’an Avenue for a few meters, you will see the National Centre for the Performing Arts on your left side, which is like a giant egg. 

After, turn right and ride northwards along Nanchang Street and Beichang Street, which is alongside the west wall of the Forbidden City. Reaching the northern end of the street, you may stop to take a picture of the northwest Corner Tower of the Forbidden City.

Next, continue cycling eastwards along Jingshan Qian Street and then Wusi Avenue, passing by Jingshan Park till reaching the first subway station, National Art Museum Station on line 6. This is the northern end of Wangfujing Street and also the ending point of this Beijing city center biking tour. If interested, you may later spend some time shopping or enjoying local food on Wangfujing. 

The road around Tian’anmen Square may be closed when there is a big event, like Military Parade on Chinese National Day of October 1st, and National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference usually held in early to middle March. 

You may take subway line 1 to Wagfujing Station and use exit C2 or B1. 

You may either take subway line 6 on the northern end of Wangfujing Street or line 1 on its southern end to leave. 

Sharing bikes are very common nowadays in Beijing. You can easily find one after getting out of the Wangfujing subway station. Use your WeChat app or download its own app by scanning the QR Code pasted on the bike and the lock will be open automatically. After the biking trip, remember to park it at a proper area and lock it. Usually, it charges CNY1.5 per 30 minutes. 

See more: Bike Sharing in China