Qianmen Street, aka Qian Men Da Jie 前门大街 in Chinese, is an 845-meter long street running south from Zhengyangmen Tower on the southern edge of Tiananmen Square, along the Beijing central axis. It is one of the last remnants of the commercial centres of the old Beijing.
Qianmen Street Map ( google)
Now it has been transformed into a modern commercial pedestrian street, the most second visited traffic-free street after Wangfujing Street in Beijing.
Qianmen Street was initially formed in Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). By the time of Emperor Jiajing, the 12th Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emperor, the street was dotted with guild halls built by different localities, providing houses to citizens from other parts of China intending to take the imperial exams.
Qianmen Street became even more prosperous in the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with the development of activities such as lantern fairs, theatres and tea houses.
Places like the Guanghe Theater – today threatened with demolition — and the Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant are part of Beijing’s history.
The original Qianmen Street in Ming and Qing Dynasties was burnt down to ashes in 1900 when the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers ransacked Beijing. Physically, there is nothing left for us to retrieve.
The present Qianmen Street has been rebuilt on the historical photos and the mould of the 1920s to 1930s. The 1.45-square kilometer area has been built into four zones for culture, food, shopping and entertainment. Trolley cars are back to transport and entertain tourists.
The area is home to 50 courtyards and hutongs listed as state-level heritage sites, as well as 80 famed shops that have been operating for over a century, such as the Liubiju sauce and pickle shop, Tongrentang drugstore, Ruifuxiang silk shop, Neiliansheng shoes store and Zhangyiyuan tea shop.
Follow me to explore Qianmen Street.
You may visit Qianmen Street from its northern paifang gateway, south of Tiananmen Square.
The northern paifang gateway to Qianmen Street
Here you can find the West meets the East. The Starbucks is located by the side of the norther paifang gateway of Qianmen Street, south of Zhengyangmen Tower.
Or, you may enter Qianmen Street from its southern entrance. The distance between the north entrance and south entrance is 845m in length.
The south entrance to Qianmen Street
The Dangdang Che ( Tram) is basically in service during Chinese public holidays running from north to south.
The Dangdang Che ( Tram)
Walking along the street.
Walking along the street.
The father and daughter are ambling down the street.
The father and daughter are ambling on the street.
KFC is mixed with the traditional Beijing elements.
KFC is mixed with the traditional Beijing elements.
The 845m long Qianmen Street is a nice place for a walk.
The 845m long Qianmen Street is a nice place for a walk.
Here you can find the West meets the East. The Starbucks is located at the north entrance.
Here you can find the West meets the East.
The time-honored Yueshengzhai Restaurant.
The time-honored Yueshengzhai Restaurant.
The famous Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant.
The famous Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant.
People are lining up for having a bite of Duyichu shaomai.
People are lining up for having a bite of Duyichu shaomai.
China Bookstore
China Bookstore
Changcuntang, a famous traditional Chinese Pharmacy
Changcuntang, a famous traditional Chinese Pharmacy
Qianmen Street is also an interesting area where the East and the West stay peacefully and harmoniously.
MCdonald’s on the street
MCdonald’s on the street
Walking about 80 meters from the north entrance to Qianmen Street, on your right hand, you will see the entrance to the famous Dashilan, once the commercial center of Beijing.
The Dashilan area has gathered some of China’s oldest brands, such as Tongrentang (TCM), Neiliansheng (shoes), and Ruifuxiang (silk and fabrics).
The entrance to the famous Dashilan
The two time-honored shops selling hats and shoes inside Dashilan Area.
The two time-honored shops selling hats and shoes inside Dashilan Area
Its north entrance is just behind Zhengyang Gate ( Arrow Tower ).
Its northern paifang gateway is just behind Zhengyang Gate ( Arrow Tower ).
Of course, you won’t miss Tiananmen Square – the largest public square of this kind in the world – on your first trip to Beijing. As a public square, basically it is open all year round free of charge for local residents and visitors as well （except on some special events or rallies).
So what do you expect from Tiananmen Square? What other famous attractions available you can see near the square? When and how to go there? Well, we’d like to sum up some useful tips which might help plan your own trip to Tiananmen Square.
Tip 1: How to get to Tiananmen Square
For a first-time visitor to Beijing, using Beijing’ local public bus system is a bit tricky and daunting. So taking subway to go around Beijing is highly recommended and you easily check online or grab a subway map of Beijing from your lodging hotel.
To go to Tiananmen Square, you may use Subway Line 1 or Line 2: For Subway Line 1, you get off either at Tiananmen East Station or Tiananmen West Station； For Subway Line 2, just get off at Qianmen Station.
Bus
Arriving at Tiananmen East Station, take bus number：1, 120, 2, 52, 82, Night 1, Sightseeing Double-Decker Bus 1, and Sightseeing Double-Decker Bus 2.
Car
Tiananmen Square does not have a dedicated parking lot. Nevertheless, you can avail yourself of the scattered parking lots in the nearby hotels and alleys.
Tip 2: Tiananmen Square Opening Hours
For security reason, Tiananmen Square is now fenced off and gone are the days when people could easily cross the square from the surrounding streets. You have to walk through one of the check points. So don’t forget to bring your personal ID.
One of the security check points in Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square Opening Hours:
Basically the square is open one hour before the daily the Flag Raising Ceremony and close an hour after the Flag Lowering Ceremony.
They time the flag raising at the exact moment of sunrise and the flag lowering at the time of sunset in Beijing. So you can check the timetable for flag raisin and lowering and easily learn about the opening hours for Tiananmen Square.
You can also call Tian ‘anmen District Administrative Committee inquiring about the opening or closing of the square, or other matters. Contact phone number：86409660.
Very important notice: You still can walk around the square and take beautiful pictures even when the square itself is closed. No big deal.
Just read my another article Night View of Tiananmen Square ( I shot all the pictures outside the square in the evening).
Tip 3: What to see inside Tiananmen Square
Well, once you are in the square, you will see people, lots of people, coming from all parts of the country and the world also like you. Of course, Tiananmen Square itself is amazing, 880 meters long from north to south and 500 meters wide from east to west. It covers an area of 440,000 square meters and can accommodate one million people for grand gatherings.
Along the central axis of Beijing in the square from north to south stand the National Flag Pole, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower.
The National Flag Pole
So from the north to south in the square, you first see the National Flag Pole, where people see the daily national flag raising and lowering ceremonies.
Originally built from August 1952 to May 1958, in the center of the square, the monument towers 10 stories high, its northern facade is dominated by the inscription, “Eternal Glory to the People’s Heroes,” in Mao Zedong’s hand.
The Monument to the People’s Heroes
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall is located in the south of Tian’anmen Square between the Monument to the People’s Heroes in the center of Tiananmen Square and Zhengyangmen Gate on the southern edge of Tiananmen Square.
The mausoleum is the final resting place of Chairman Mao where his body was embalmed and put on display after his death.
Zhengyangmen was built between 1421 and 1439 and actually had two towers, the gatehouse and a watchtower. The two towers were originally put together to create an inner walled courtyard for easy defence purpose.
Tip 4: What to see near Tiananmen Square
For many, going to Tiananmen Square is not just for the square itself, furthermore they would incorporate the square into their day trip. So what are the major attractions adjacent to Tiananmen Square?
Qianmen Street ( to the south of the square)
The 845-meter long Qianmen Street runs south from Tiananmen Square just along the Beijing central axis. It is one of the last remnants of the business centers of the old Beijing.
Check out my another article Qianmen Street for more information.
The northern paifang gateway to Qianmen Street
National Museum Of China ( to the east of the square)
The National Museum of China may be not a must do in Beijing if you only have 2 or 3 days to stick around. But if you’re here for quite a few days, or you have finished the so-called bucket list, this huge museum is perfect for you no matter you are a history buff or not.
The Great Hall of the People ( to the west of the square )
On the west of Tiananmen Square it is the Great Hall of the People, the meeting place of national people’s congress of the People’s Republic of China ( often dubbed as China’s parliament). The Great Hall with huge and complicated engineering was built within ten months in 1950’s, possessing central hall, great hall, banqueting hall with 7000 square meters, office building of people congress standing committee and hall named with all provinces and autonomous region.
The Great Hall of the People
The National Centre for the Performing Arts （ to the west of the Great Hall of the People）
It is one of the 4 most important landmarks in Beijing. The egg-shape theatre is absolutely worth having a glimpse. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007.
Tiananmen Tower (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to the north of the square
Tiananmen Tower (Gate of Heavenly Peace) was built in the 15th year of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1417) and was originally called “Chengtian Gate”. It was rebuilt in the 8th year of Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1651) . It was the front gate of the imperial city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared to the world at the Tiananmen Tower that “the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China was founded today”. Tiananmen has since become the symbol of new China.
Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly proclaims the founding of the PRC in Tiananmen rostrum, October 1, 1949. ( Photo from Xinhua )
The National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China is hung in the middle of the Tiananmen Tower above the eaves, and the portrait of Chairman Mao is hung above the doorway in the middle of Tiananmen Tower. On both sides are banners and slogans reading “Long live the People’s Republic of China” and “Long live the great unity of the people of the world”.
Tiananmen Tower viewed from the north of Tiananmen Square
In 1961, Tiananmen Tower (Gate of Heavenly Peace) became one of the first national key cultural relic protection sites promulgated by the State Council.
By the way, at the time of my updating this article, Tiananmen Tower is still closed to the public. For the latest information, please call Tiananmen District Administrative Committee at 63095718.
Forbidden City to the north of Tiananmen Tower
Visiting the Forbidden City ( The Palace Museum ) is no doubt one of your travel highlights in Beijing. Then how to buy your Forbidden City entry ticket? When to visit? Which gate to enter? What’s the visiting line? How to beat the crowds?
The area around Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City is a favourite hangout for scammers. For more information on the scams, please read my another article Top 10 Beijing Tourist Scams.
Toilets in the Square
If you drink too much water and want to use a toilet, don’t worry. There are two toilets adjoining the National Museum of China on the east of Tiananmen Square.
So you just go out of the square from its east exit, then walk directly to the toilets in the annex to the museum.
Drinks and Food Selling
If you feel thirsty or hungry, you can easily get what you want from the food and beverage on the wheels in the square. Don’t litter.
We’d like to have the following quick guide to remain updated for the benefit of new visitors coming to Ming Tombs in Beijing. If anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!
Before we talk about how to visit Ming Tombs, people are more interested in knowing whether Ming Tombs are worth visiting. Well, as far as I know, people are quite divided on this. Some dislike; some feel they are ok and others say they are a must see. So different people with different cultural and social backgrounds have their own different opinions on the question.
For many visitors, the visiting of Ming Tombs is not as important as that of Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China. It is not worth a separate trip.
But in my opinion, generally it is quite worth having a glimpse on a combined journey to or back from the Great Wall or Summer Palace since the location of Ming Tombs is quite accessible on the way to the sections of the Great Wall of China – Juyongguan, Badaling and Mutianyu, and also not far from Summer Palace.
Of course, their accessibility is not the only reason for being worth visiting. Listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage, Ming Tombs provide people a kind of real experience. That tells why this place is a popular place for native Chinese, especially those who are attracted by its history.
If you are going to visit the Tombs, then how to visit them? What homework you should do before you come close to them? Maybe the following Ming Tombs travel tips will be useful for you:
Tip 1: Grab some basic knowledge
Ming Tombs here refers to the 13 tombs in Ming Dynasty where 13 out of 16 emperors in Ming Dynasty were buried successively there. There were totally 16 emperors in Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD).
Why 13 emperors were buried there instead of 16? Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty was buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing; Zhu Yunwen, the Emperor Jianwen disappeared and Zhu Qiyu, the Emperor Jingtai was buried at Jinshan Hill in the western suburbs of Beijing. All other 13 Ming Emperors were buried in this tomb area, hence the area popularly being called the 13 Ming Tombs, or simply Ming Tombs.
Of all the 13 Ming Tombs, at present only 3 Ming Tombs are open to the public, namely Dingling, Changling and Zhaoling ( “ling” literally means “Tomb” in Chinese). So before you are going to visit Ming Tombs, you’d better know which of the 3 tombs you should visit, which are located separately quite a distance. The three tombs are also a little different in terms of ticket prices and value.
The three dimensional image of Ming Tombs (Picture Credit: mingshisanling.com)
Of the 3 Ming Tombs opened to the public, only Dingling ( often called Underground Palace) has been excavated. There is down a long staircase into a chamber with some stone thrones and a few large plain red boxes which are the burial caskets in the so called underground palace.
Tip 2: Of the 3 tombs, which one you should visit?
Because all the 3 tombs are located separately quite a distance, usually you only have time to visit one of the three tombs. So which one? If you have no problem with your knees and feet, and are fairly good at walking, you are advised to visit Dingling – the underground Palace.
The Exhibition Building at Dingling Tomb
The tower at Dingling
The stela in the tower at Dingling.
The underground Palace in Dingling (from internet)
You have a long walk from the Dingling Entrance before you get to the Tomb itself, where you walk 8 flights of stairs down. The walk to the tomb can be hard and long during high season, but normally takes about 15 minutes.
If you are wheelchair users or have some difficulty in walking, just forget Dingling, and choose Changling instead. Changling is the largest tomb of all the 13 Ming Tombs. There are a wide collection of artifacts and valuables unearthed from the tombs.
The Entrance to the Changling Tomb
Changling is the tomb where buried the Third Emperor Zhu Di with his queen Nee Xu. Changling is not excavated yet. But its grand hall on the ground is worth visiting. The construction of the hall started in 1409 and finished in 1427. As for Zhaoling, you can simply skip it since it is almost renovated.
Tip 3: Sacred Way is highly recommended
For me, the best part of Ming Tombs tour is the walk down Sacred Way which is lined with large statues that are several hundred years old. These are huge statues of lions, camels, elephants, etc, and as well as stone statues of officials and officers, lining up on both sides of the Sacred Way.
To visit either Dingling or Changling, you’ll first pass by the Sacred Way, or “Spirit Way” leading into the complex of the 13 tombs.
Though the Sacred Way is supposed to be 7.3km. But don’t be afraid of its length. The highlight of the Sacred Way which you have to pay the entrance ticket to enter is only 800 meters long. So it is a 800-meter long walk.
Basically you enter the southern gate and exit from the northern gate. So if you have extra time, you are recommended first to visit the Sacred Way.
Dagongmen (大宫门）- Great Red Gate （ the southern gate ）
The Sacred Way
The Statue of an Elephant
The Stone General on the Sacred Way
The Sacred Way is part of the Ming Tombs complex. Sacred Way means the road leading to heaven. The Emperor, known as the Son of the Heaven, who descended from Heaven to his country through the Sacred Road, also would return to Heaven through this way.
Sacred and Ming Tombs are located in Changping District, about 50km north of Beijing.
Inquiry: 010-83531111, 66015622
Basically you have the money-saving option to take Bus 872 to directly reach the Ming Tombs from Deshengmen Bus Terminal in the downtown Beijing.
Bus 872 Deshengmen Bus Terminal
The Bus 872 starts from Deshengmen Bus Station which is located on the north square of Deshengmen Arrow Tower (德胜们箭楼) lying on the mid-way of the northern second ring road. It is worth getting up earlier to catch an early morning Bus 872 for Ming Tombs.
How to go to Deshengmen Bus Terminal
Several buses can bring you to the Deshengmen Bus Station. But the bus system in Beijing could be daunting even for the local Beijingers. It is advisable to take the Subway Line 2 to reach Deshengmen Bus Station. The the closest subway station to Deshengmen Bus Station is Jishuitan (积水潭) of the loop-type Subway Line 2.
You get off at the station of Jishuitan (积水潭), exit from the Exit A. Then walk along the sidewalk in the east direction for about 450 meters, soon you will see a high tower – the Deshengmen Arrow Tower. Deshengmen Bus Station is just below the northern side of the tower.
The compound of Deshengmen Arrow Tower is within a roundabout. So you have to cross a road to reach the bus station. You have to be careful crossing the road since the road has no traffic light at the time of my writing.
By the way, on your 450-meter walk from the subway station of Jishuitan to the Deshengmen Arrow Tower, you will pass alongside the Deshengmenxi ( “xi” means “west”) Bus Station which is different from Deshengmen Bus Station, and you just ignore it!
You will be also distracted by some privately owned buses or mini-buses operated in the name of official Badaling-bound buses. We strongly suggest you take the official buses within the Deshengmen Bus Station for safety and reasonable price.
Don’t be surprised if you find the queue in front of the bus 872, especially on the weekends or national public holidays.
Bus 872 is below the west side of Deshengmen Tower
Bus 872 Timetable
First Bus and last bus from Deshengmen to Ming Tombs: 09:15-16:15 First Bus and last bus from Ming Tombs to Deshengmen: 08:00-15:00 Bus Fare: 8 yuan The Bus 872 leaves every 10 minutes The Bus 872 has 15 bus stops, Dingling (last but two stop) and Changling ( last stop), taking about one hour.
Bus 872 for Ming Tombs
For self drive tourists：
Sacred and Ming Tombs are located in Changping District, about 50km north of Beijing. Just follow your GPS along G6 Beijing-Tibet Expressway. And after arriving at the Changping Xiguan Roundabout ( 昌平西关环岛), turn north to Jingyin Road ( 京银路) and turn right at the traffic light 500 meters later to Changchi Road (昌赤路).
Along the way, you will pass the Stone Archway (石牌坊), the Sacre Way of the Ming Tombs ( 神路), the Seven-Arch Bridge and the T-junction. Then go straight to Changling Tomb, turn left to Dingling Tomb and Zhaoling Tomb.
Tip 6: How to plan your Ming Tombs Tour?
It is better to incorporate your Ming Tombs into a journey covering other tourist attractions also. How to incorporate? Usually Summer Palace can be combined with Ming Tombs trip on a one day tour in Beijing.
The most common is blended with the trip to one of the sections of Great Wall of China – Juyongguan Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall or Mutuanyu Great Wall on an a day trip in Beijing.
Tip 7: Avoid Public Holiday and Weekend
For local Chinese, Ming Tombs are just as important as Forbidden City and Summer Palace, never missed on their trip to Beijing. On weekend, especially during the public holidays, Ming Tombs can be very crowded!
Take greater precaution when you go down the 8 staircases to the underground palace at Dingling Tomb.
Tip 8: Bus 879 Between Dingling (Ming Tombs) and Badaling Great Wall
If you’d like to go from Ming Tombs ( Dingling ) and Badaling or vice versa, you can take the Bus 879 listed below:
1) Dingling Tomb ( Ming Tombs) to Badaling Great Wall
Fist Bus:8:00 am Last Bus: 4:00 pm Bus Fare: 9 yuan The Bus 879 leaves every half an hour The Bus 879 has 25 bus stops from Dingling (Ming Tombs) to Badaling Great Wall ( the last but the third ) taking about one and half hours, about 40km.
1) Badaling to Dingling ( 定陵): Fist Bus:9:30 am Last Bus: 5:30 pm Bus Fare: 9 yuan The Bus 879 leaves every half an hour The Bus 879 has 25 bus stops from Badaling to Dingling ( Ming Tombs ), taking about one and half hours from Badaling to Dingling (定陵）, the last bus stop ( about 40 km ).
If you’d like to go to directly from Deshengmen to Badaling Great Wall, take the Bus 877 ( see the link: Badaling Bus 877).
Tip 9: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:
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