As the first anniversary of the successful UNESCO World Heritage inscription of the Beijing's Central Axis approaches, Dongcheng District of Beijing has launched ten cultural exploration routes on July 4. These curated routes offer visitors immersive ways to experience the charm of the Central Axis.
These routes link museums, art centers, special blocks, and time-honored intangible cultural heritage (ICH) brands along Beijing's Central Axis, integrating cultural and consumption scenarios. While strolling, light jogging, and cycling tours remain available, the routes introduce a Central Axis sightseeing bus for the first time. Each route comes with professional guides and offers unique experiences to meet visitors' diverse needs.
Ten Cultural Exploration Routes
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
Route 2: Moments Bathed in Light and Shadow on Breezy Terraces
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
Route 3: A City Jogging Tour from Temple of Heaven to Yongding Gate
East Gate of the Temple of Heaven – Temple of Heaven – West Gate of the Temple of Heaven – Yongdingmen Square
Features: Beijing's Central Axis, cultural running, light exercise, and ancient architecture
Length: Approximately 4.5 kilometers
Duration: About three hours
Tour Type: Light jogging
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
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
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 – Yongding Gate
Features: Cycling, red tourism, and Beijing's Central Axis
Length: Approximately 1.5 kilometers
Duration: About 3.5 hours
Tour Type: Cycling
Route 7: A Night Tour Along Central Axis, Illuminated by Beijing's Light and Shadow
Yongding 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
Route 8: A Memorable Tour Along Central Axis, Full of Timeless Beijing Flair
Wangfujing – Dongjiaominxiang – Yongding Gate – Zhengyangmen Archery Tower – Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City – Bell and Drum Towers – Former Course of the Yuhe River – Wusi Street – Dasein Youlan Hotel
Features: Inbound tourism, Beijing's Central Axis, cycling tour, and World Cultural Heritage site
Length: Approximately 20 kilometers
Duration: About 3.5 hours
Tour Type: Cycling
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
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 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
(Sources: China Youth Daily, Official WeChat account of "Beijing Dongcheng")
