1. Dashilanr
Dashilanr is a famous commercial street outside Qianmen. Nowadays, this term sometimes refers to the area that covers Dashilanr Street, Langfang Toutiao Hutong, Liangshidian Street, and Meishi Street. Located in the central part of ancient Beijing city, Dashilanr is a vital part of the South Central Axis. It is to the south of Tian'anmen Square and west of Qianmen Street, running 275 meters from east to west, with a total of 36 stores from 11 industries.
(Photo: Visual China Group)
2. Qianmen Street
As a well-known commercial street, Qianmen Street is situated on the Central Axis, stretching from Qianmen Yueliangwan in the north to the Tianqiao intersection in the south where it connects with Tianqiao South Street. Before the establishment of the outer city in the 29th year of Jiajing’s reign in the Ming Dynasty (1550), it was a royal road for emperors to get to the Temple of Heaven and Temple of Agriculture. It then served as the main north-south street of the outer city of Beijing. The whole street is 845 meters long with a 20-meter wide carriageway. It was called Zhengyangmen Street from the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China, and was officially renamed Qianmen Street in 1965. There are many time-honored brands on Qianmen Street, such as Tongrentang, Bianyifang, and Wu Yutai Tea House.
(Photo: Visual China Group)
3. Beijing Di'anmen Wai Street
Beijing Di'anmen Wai Street is located in the northeast part of the Xicheng District, with its name derived from its location as it sets out from Di'anmen. The shops along the street are of authentic Beijing style and there are plenty of places for tourists to shop and get something to eat.
(Photo: Visual China Group)
4.Shichahai Yandaixie Street
Shichahai Yandaixie Street lies in Xicheng District, and is close to the Central Axis. It is one of the most famous Ming- and Qing-styled traditional commercial streets in Beijing. It is over 300 meters long, extending from the Drum Tower to the Yinding Bridge. Owning a history of more than 800 years, it once served as the water transportation hub of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Goods and royal tributes at home and abroad would pass through it before arriving at the market of the Drum and Bell towers.
(Photo: Visual China Group)
5. Nanluogu Alley
Situated on the east side of the Central Axis, Nanluogu Alley starts at Gulou Street in the north and ends at Ping'an Street in the south. It is 787 meters long, eight meters wide, and is one of the oldest streets in the city. Built in the Yuan Dynasty, the street has a history of more than 700 years, but the original layout of the ancient Hutongs from the Yuan Dynasty is still well preserved.
(Photo: Visual China Group)
(Source: Visitbeijing.com.cn.)