by Please your Beijing tour? South of Tiananmen Square and behind Zhengyang Gates is Qianmen Street, a pleasant walking area though some people complain this area is a bit touristy and crowded especially on weekends.

This 845m long street  used to be a shopping and market area in the Ming and Qing dynasty ( 1368 – 1644 )  which has been totally renovated years before and is now a tourist haunting.

On the main street you find some time-honored shops and restaurants.  You may  stroll along the smaller streets off the main street,  the east side in particular.

There are plenty of small popular restaurants and stores.  Here you can shop souvenirs, have a nice Peking Duck lunch, drink good quality tea at the tea shops.  You can  also encounter the Starbucks, KFC and McDonald’s  along the main street.  It’s a very nice place to feel and see the traditional life of local people.

Qianmen Street offers good photography oppotunities. You can  snap some good pictures with Chinese architecture in backdrop as well as Western elements. There are many more Chinese visitors than westerners along Qianmen Street which makes it feel more local and authentic.

Below are some of the photos of Qianmen Street I took during my recent trip.

Zhengyangmen  ( or Zhengyang Gate –  Arrow Tower)  is colloquially called “Qianmen” ( Front  Gate ), after which Qianmen Street is named.  Qianmen Street is on the south of Zhengyangmen which is the south gate of the old inner city wall of Beijing.  The gate is situated to the south of Tiananmen Square.  The North-south Central Axis of Beijing passes through Zhengyangmen and Qianmen Street.

Zhengyang Gate (Arrow Tower) on the south of Tiananmen Square

South of Zhengyangmen Gate is the decorated Zhengyangmen Archway,  the natural north entrance to Qianmen Street along the Central Axis of Beijing.

the decorated Zhengyangmen Archway, the natural north entrance to Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street is 845m long.  The picture below was taken at the south entrance of Qianmen Street where I looked at the northern end of the street.

Qianmen Street is 845m long.

The old street car or tram is now in service to entertain tourists bringing them back to the old days, running from north to south and vice versa.

The old street car or tram is now in service to entertain tourists

The street lamps in the shape of old Beijing bird cages reminds you of the old Beijing.

The street lamps in the shape of old Beijing bird cages reminds you of the old Beijing.

The gourd shaped street lights are quite nostalgic of the old Beijing

The street lamps in the shape of gourds decorating Qianmen Street

The street statues reflecting the old Beijing life, a good photo spot.

The street statues reflecting the old Beijing life, a good photo spot.

Flanking the street are restored old buildings,  a reproduction of the old houses and building in the late Qing and the Republic era.

Flanking the street are restored old buildings, a reproduction of the old houses and building in the late Qing and the Republic era.

Qianmen Street is also an interesting area where the East and the West stay peacefully and harmoniously.

Qianmen Street is also an interesting area where the East amd the West stay peacefully and harmoniously.

Dazhalan, the most commercial area running from the main street of Qianmen from the west.  The overall length of Dashilan is 275m from east to west teemed with various stores  and shops.

Dazhalan, the most commercial area running from the main street of Qianmen from the west.

You also find a Starbucks at the north end of Qianmen Street.

You also find a Starbucks at the north end of Qianmen Street.

Tip:  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:

Beijing Highlight Day Tour from US$59 P/P
(Tiananmen + Forbidden City + Mutianyu Great Wall)
Beijing Classic City Tour from US$65 P/P
(Tiananmen + Forbidden City + Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace)
Beijing Excursion Tour from US$59 P/P
(Mutianyu Great Wall + Ming Tomb)
Beijing Hutong Highlight Tour from US$59 P/P
( Hutong + Rickshaw)

Mutianyu Great Wall Half Day Tour from US$55 p/p
Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour from US$69 p/p

Mutianyu Great Wall Layover Tour from US$65 p/p
Beijing Highlight Layover Tour from US$75 p/p

Further Readings

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Night Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

Any questions, just drop a line.