BJ-WK01: Beijing Central Axis Walking Tour

This 1-day Beijing walking tour leads you to hike along the central axis of the city from south to the north, passing ancient architecture heritage in the city's core area and Hutong alleys full of native lifestyle.

 Route: Qianmen Street - Tiananmen Square - Forbidden City - Jingshan Park - Drum and Bell Towers - Yandai Xiejie (Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street) - Houhai 
 Tips: Wear a pair of comfortable shoes and have a big breakfast not only because it is energy-consuming, but also because the lunch time may be a little late than usual. 

Today after you having breakfast in the hotel, our experienced guide who speaks English very well will come to pick you up at the confirmed time. After self-introduction, he or she will lead you to the southern end of Qianmen Street, the starting point of today’s walking tour by public transport.

Subway will be the first choice because Zhushikou Station on line 7 and line 8 is right nearby. If city bus is better considering the location of your hotel, the guide will choose it finally. The buses 23, 57, and 57 inter-zone line stop by the nearby Guojielou stop and 2, 20, 59, 93, 120, 141, 141 inter-zone line, and 622 stop by the Zhushikou South stop a little south away. 

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

With a length of about 845 meters (925 yards) from north to south, Qianmen Street used to be the imperial path leading from Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven, and now it is a bustling business district for shopping distinctive souvenirs, appreciate old architectures and taste local flavors. 

After strolling in Qianmen Street and approaching its northern end, you will encounter the Qianmen Arrow Tower. Across the tower stands the grand Tian’anmen Square.

It is the political center of China. In the center of the square, you would find the Monument to People's Heroes towering straight. At the west side lies the Great Hall of the People and Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao and National Museum of China are located in the east. The solemn Tian’anmen Tower, the landmark of Beijing, is right ahead of you. 

Follow the guide to pass the Tian’anmen Tower, you will see the southern gate, also the only entrance to the Forbidden City, the solemn imperial palace for ancient Chinese emperors from the 15th to early 20th century. 

The guide will lead you to explore it in a roughly south-north direction along the central axis. Some important architectures on the west and east wings will also be included. 

Coming out from the northern gate of the imperial palace, the guide will leave you some time to have lunch before continuing this walking tour. It is not difficult in finding a restaurant in this core area of Beijing. The guide would be glad to give you some recommendations and help you make an order.

The next stop, Jingshan Park is right to the north of the Forbidden City. The guide will escort you all the way to the peak of the Jingshan Hill inside, from where you can have a full view of the Forbidden City.

After overlooking the Forbidden City, the guide will lead you out of the Jingshan Park from its west gate and enter West Jingshan Street. Then, walk to the north end of the West Jingshan Street, turn right to Jingshan Back Street for another 200 meters’ walking forward. Next, turn left onto Di'anmen Inner Street and stroll for about 1,300 meters north to the Bell and Drum Towers, passing by Shichahai subway station. Those two towers face each other across a distance of about 200 meters. 

In ancient times, they were used to tell the time to people living in the city, by ringing the bell in the morning and beating the drum in the evening.

Coming down from the Bell and Drum Towers, backtrack to find the eastern end of the Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street on the right. 

It is one of the most hustling hutongs of Beijing. Both sides of the alley are lined with quaint courtyards in Ming and Qing (1368 - 1911) architectural style. The front part of the courtyards becomes time-honored shops, while local residents live in the backyards. There you can feel the rhythm of old Beijingers' life. If interested, you can select some funny gadgets as souvenirs or gifts.

Walk west to the west end of the Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street and turn left to find the lakefront of the Houhai.

After a leisurely stroll there, the guide will escort you to Shichahai subway station and send you back to your hotel by subwayline 8 directly or with transfers with other public transport.

Many featured bars, cafés and tea housesare lined along the bank of Houhai. If you want to spend a colorful night there,the guide will inform you the way back to your hotel and leave. Have fun!