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10 Routes to Discover Hidden Gems Along Central Axis

 Posted:2025-07-28 Views: 3722

July 27 marks the first anniversary of the successful UNESCO World Heritage inscription of the Beijing"s Central Axis. It is not only the country"s best-preserved and most complete architectural complex along a traditional capital"s axis but also the "soul and backbone" of the old Beijing. How to enjoy the charm of the Beijing Central Axis? Follow this "Central Axis Strolling Guide" to immersively explore hidden gems along it! 

Ten Cultural Exploration Routes

 

01

 

Route 1: An ICH Walk Along Central Axis

Qianmen Street – Wangfujing Street – Drum Tower – Guijie Street

Features: Beijing"s Central Axis and time-honored ICH brands

Length: Approximately eight kilometers

Duration: About six hours

Tour Type: Strolling

 

02

 

Route 2: Moments Bathed in Light and Shadow on Breezy Terrace

Rooftop Garden of Jinbao Place – Oriental Vogue Hotel – Longfu Temple – Guardian Art Center – Terrace of The Puxuan Hotel & Spa – Terrace of Canran Bookhouse

Features: Cultural Golden Triangle, and architectural photography of the past and the present

Length: Approximately 3.5 kilometers

Duration: About three hours

Tour Type: Strolling

 

03

 

Route 3: A City Jogging Tour from Temple of Heaven to Yongdingmen Gate

East Gate of the Temple of Heaven – Temple of Heaven – West Gate of the Temple of Heaven – Yongdingmen Gate Square

Features: Beijing"s Central Axis, cultural running, light exercise, and ancient architecture

Length: Approximately 4.5 kilometers

Duration: About three hours

Tour Type: Jogging

 

04

 

Route 4: A Study Tour Along Central Axis

Bell and Drum Towers – Wanning Bridge – Yu"er Hutong – Memorial Hall of Qi Baishi – Former Site of Sino-French University – Red Building of Peking University – Imperial City Wall Relics Park

Features: Beijing"s Central Axis, study tour, exquisite journaling, and interactive experience

Length: Approximately three kilometers

Duration: About five hours

Tour Type: Strolling

 

05

 

Route 5: A Strolling Tour Along Central Axis to Embrace History

National Museum of China – Zhengyangmen Archery Tower – China Railway Museum – Qianmen Street – Sanlihe Park – Central Gifts and Artifacts Center

Features: Beijing"s Central Axis, innovative IP-based experiences, cultural relics and ruins, exquisite journaling, and high-quality cultural and creative products

Length: Approximately 2.5 kilometers

Duration: About six hours

Tour Type: Strolling

 

06

 

Route 6: A Red Tour of Awakening

Beijing Epigraphy Museum (Bike Pickup) – Former Site of Peking University"s Mathematics Department – Red Building of Peking University – Former Site of New Youth"s Editorial Department (Former Residence of Chen Duxiu) – Nanchizi Street – Dongjiaominxiang – Yongdingmen Gate

Features: Cycling, red tourism, and Beijing"s Central Axis

Length: Approximately 1.5 kilometers

Duration: About 3.5 hours

Tour Type: Cycling

 

07

 

Route 7: A Night Tour Along Central Axis, Illuminated by Beijing"s Light and Shadow

Yongdingmen Gate – Temple of Heaven – Sanlihe Park – Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City – Bell and Drum Towers

Features: Night economy, light and shadow, cycling tour, and Beijing"s Central Axis

Length: Approximately 12 kilometers

Duration: About 2.5 hours

Tour Type: Cycling

 

09

 

Route 9: A Comfortable Bus Tour Embracing Beijing"s Splendor

Corner Tower of Dongbianmen Gate – Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park – Dongjiaominxiang – Sanlihe Park – Qianmen Street (start point of bus tour) – Tian"anmen – Beichang Street – Drum Tower – Donghua Gate – Wangfujing – Chang"an Avenue – Tian"anmen

Features: Citywalk, bus tour, Beijing"s Central Axis, and landscapes of the ancient capital

Length: Approximately 18 kilometers (2-kilometer walking, and 16-kilometer bus tour)

Duration: About 3.5 hours

Tour Type: Strolling and bus tour

 

10

 

Route 10: A China-Chic Tour Along Central Axis

Day 1: Hong"en Temple – Bell and Drum Towers – Wanning Bridge – Jingshan Park – Tea of Seasons – Imperial Ancestral Temple

Day 2: Forbidden City – Duanmen Gate – Tian"anmen – Jinshui Bridge – Architectural Complex at Tian"anmen Square

Day 3: Zhengyangmen Archery Tower – Peking Tales Themed Post Office – Temple of Heaven – Beijing Enamel Factory – Remnants of Central Axis"s Southern Road – Yongdingmen Gate Park

Features: Beijing"s Central Axis, immersive three-day tour, delicious food, ICH, and rubber stamp collection

Length: Approximately 20 kilometers per day

Duration: About three days

Tour Type: Cycling and vehicle tour

Grab your camera and head to the landmarks along Beijing"s Central Axis! Snap a photo or shoot a vertical video at any stop, then share your story with us. Send your entry to our official email (beijing@cri.cn), and we"ll invite fans to vote for the best submissions. Exciting prizes await the winners!

(Sources: China Youth Daily, Official WeChat account of "Beijing Dongcheng") 

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