From Zhengyangmen gate on the Central Axis down Qianmen Street, west through Dashilar's time-honoured shops, along the slanting Yangmeizhu Xiejie of small studios and cafes, to the bookshops and calligraphy-paper stores of Liulichang.
Best time: Weekday morning or late afternoon; Liulichang is quiet on weekdays, Qianmen Street is busiest at weekends and holidays.
The route, stop by stop
- 1Zhengyangmen (Qianmen) Gate and Arrow Tower
The gate at the south end of Tiananmen Square, one of the components of the Central Axis World Heritage property. 15 min
- 2Qianmen Street
840 m pedestrian street on the axis lined with time-honoured brands. 20 min
- 3Zhang Yiyuan Tea (Dashilar main store)
Old commercial street: Ruifuxiang silk store, Tong Ren Tang pharmacy and Daguanlou, where China's first film was shown in 1905. 30 min
- 4Yangmeizhu Xiejie
About 500 m of restored lane: former Qing publishing houses, Qingyunge, independent studios and cafes. 40 min
- 5China Bookstore (Liulichang)
Antique, book and ink-stone shops where examination candidates once lodged. 25 min
- 6Rongbaozhai
Liulichang's most famous old shop for painting and calligraphy materials, where Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian were customers. 20 min
More walks in Beijing
- Central Axis north: Jingshan to the Drum and Bell Towers
- Shichahai lakes loop: Yinding Bridge, Yandai Xiejie and Houhai
- Nanluoguxiang side hutongs to the Lama Temple
- Dongsi hutongs: Zhihua Temple to Dongsi Sitiao
- Temple of Heaven at 7 am: east gate to Circular Mound
- Beihai to Jingshan at sunset
- Summer Palace: East Palace Gate, Long Corridor and Seventeen-Arch Bridge
- Niujie and Fayuan Temple: the Hui quarter and Xuannan hutongs
- 798 Art Zone and 751 D-Park
- Ming City Wall Relics Park to the Ancient Observatory