Central Axis north: Jingshan to the Drum and Bell Towers: a walk in Beijing

Walk the northern half of the Beijing Central Axis, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024: climb Jingshan for the view back over the palace roofs, then follow the axis north over the Yuan-dynasty Wanning Bridge to the Drum and Bell Towers at its northern end.

Best time: Morning, straight after leaving the Forbidden City by its north gate; Jingshan opens early and the towers are quieter before noon.

The route, stop by stop

1
Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
North gate of the Forbidden City, where palace visitors exit; cross Jingshan Front Street to the park. 5 min
The imperial palace of 24 Ming and Qing emperors, the seat of power from 1420 to 1924 and a UNESCO site since 1987. The route runs one way from south to north through the Three…
2
Jingshan Park
Enter by the south gate and climb to the pavilion on the top of Jingshan, the highest point on the Central Axis: the Forbidden City to the south, the Drum and Bell Towers to the north. 40 min
The artificial hill behind the Forbidden City was the highest point of the Ming and Qing capital. From the Wanchun Pavilion on top you see the palace roofs to the south and the…
3
Jingshan Park
Hall complex on the axis behind the hill, in the north part of the park. 15 min
The artificial hill behind the Forbidden City was the highest point of the Ming and Qing capital. From the Wanchun Pavilion on top you see the palace roofs to the south and the…
4
Wanning Bridge (Houmen Bridge)
Yuan-dynasty stone bridge on Di'anmen Outer Street, still carrying buses and cars; look at the water channel linking Shichahai. 10 min
A stone bridge first built in 1285 over the old canal outlet of Shichahai, nicknamed Houmen Bridge, and still carrying traffic on the Central Axis road between Di'anmen and the…
5
Di'anmen Outer Street
Old commercial street running straight north on the axis to the Drum Tower. 10 min
6
Drum and Bell Towers
Ming-Qing timekeeping tower; climb for the view over the grey hutong roofs. 40 min
The two tallest buildings on the Central Axis for 500 years, they kept the city's time and called the night watch. Climb both for views over the grey hutong roofs, an hourly drum…
7
Drum and Bell Towers
The northern end of the 7.8 km Central Axis, facing the Drum Tower across a square. 30 min
The two tallest buildings on the Central Axis for 500 years, they kept the city's time and called the night watch. Climb both for views over the grey hutong roofs, an hourly drum…

Walking directions

Central Axis north: Jingshan to the Drum and Bell Towers

The route, stop by stop

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