Train-hop your way through the city
The long-anticipated opening of Beijing’s Line 5 subway has eased the commute for those traveling north to south within the city. In addition to connecting numerous residential complexes to business and commercial areas, the new line has also unlocked a treasure trove of fun places rich in local flavor and culture. Here’s our guide to discovering both old and new Beijing, and all within the Third Ring Road.
Show Max Cinema
This movie theater, right across the street from the New World Shopping Mall, Chongmenwen station plays Chinese and foreign films, and sometimes Chinese movies with English subtitles. Tickets: RMB 40-50, RMB 25-30 (students and kids over 110cm), free for kids under 110cm. Half-off matinees begin at 9am, and all movies are half-price every Tuesday and Thursday. Show Max Cinema (no English spoken, prices and movie titles available in English). Daily 9am-midnight. 9/F, Soshow Market, 40 Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District (5167 1299) 搜秀影城, 崇文门外大街40号搜秀城9层
Hao Sha Skating Rink
There’s nothing like ice-skating to get in the mood for winter, and a perfect place to do it is at the Hao Sha Skating Rink. Located at Beijing New World Shopping Mall south of Chongwenmen Station, the large rink is in the middle of the mall’s basement floor and is the perfect stage for skilled skaters to show off their jumps, spins and ice-dancing skills. For beginners, training classes are offered upon request. RMB 25-45 for 90 minutes. Hao Sha Skating Rink (some English spoken). Sun-Thu 11.30am-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-10pm. B1/F, Bldg 2, Beijing New World Shopping Mall, 5 Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District (6708 5450) 新世界浩沙溜冰场,崇文区崇文门外大街5号新世界商场二期B1层
China Children’s Art Theatre
Situated 1,500 meters northwest of Dongdan Station, this four-story playhouse presents plays and musicals for children in Chinese all year long. Every weekend, the Holiday Classic Theatre Hall on the fourth floor puts on plays starting at 10am, and performers even talk to the audience after each play. Performances include the Chinese classic Ma Lan Hua, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and A Journey With Hans Christian Andersen, among others. The Ma Lan Hua Art School that connects to the theater offers acting, recitation and dance classes for kids ages 5-12; call 6522 2135 for more information. China Children’s Art Theatre (no English spoken). Daily 9am-9pm. 64 Dong’anmen Dajie, Dongcheng District (6513 4115) 中国儿童艺术剧院, 东城区东安门大街64号
Sanlian Bookstore
About 800 meters northwest of Dongsi Station lies this wondrous bookstore for art lovers. The second floor of Sanlian offers a large selection of books on sketching, painting, calligraphy, photography, sculpture, architecture, graphics, fashion, home and furniture design, and even comic books! Biographies of famous artists can also be found here. In a nutshell, anything you could ever want to know about fine arts – ancient to modern, Eastern or Western – should be on these shelves. After locating your favorite book, enjoy it while sipping a warm cup of milk tea in the bookstore’s cafe. Most books are in Chinese, but a small section of English books are available. Sanlian Bookstore (limited English spoken). Daily 9am-9pm. 22 Meishuguan Dongjie, Dongcheng District (6400 1122) 三联书店,东城区美术馆东街22号
Old Beijing
Take a stroll along Zhang Zizhong Lu, west of the subway station of the same name, and you will get a whiff of the real lao Beijing: No skyscrapers around here – all you see are richly painted traditional buildings. Formerly known as “Iron Lion Alley” (Tie Shizi Hutong), this street was home to many princes and princesses during the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as having accommodated many high-ranking local officials during the first half of the 20th century. Most of the former residences of these historical figures have been transformed into shops or homes for locals, but you can still take a peek into the home of Mr. Sun Yat-Sen (a revolutionary figure during the early 20th century in China), the place where he lived until the end of his life. History comes alive here. Zhang Zizhong Lu, Dongcheng District 东城区张自忠路
Confucius Temple
The Confucius Temple is located 400 meters to the southwest of Yonghegong Station. It was first built in 1302 and served as an altar where intellectuals from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties offered their respects to Confucius. Now it has become a museum exhibiting engraved stones, old Chinese doorbells and drums, bronze and jade utensils, paintings and calligraphic works, antique musical instruments and ancient Chinese currencies. Every September, a ritual celebrating Confucius’s birthday takes place here, in which a music and dance ceremony from the Qing dynasty is performed. RMB 10 (RMB 3 for students, free for children). Confucius Temple (no English spoken). Daily 8.30am-5pm (4.30pm last ticket). 13 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng District (8401 1977) 北京孔庙,东城区国子监街13号
Sports Gear Street
One block east of Tian Le Toy Market is Beijing’s famous “sports street,” where shops selling every kind of sports gear cluster between Tiyuguan Lu and Tiyuguan Xilu. Find good quality and fashionable sports attire and equipment here. Don’t be surprised if you bump into a famous sports star or coach! Some prices are negotiable. Some English spoken. Daily 9am-7pm (most shops). Tiyuguan Lu and Tiyuguan Xilu, Chongwen District 体育用品一条街, 崇文区体育馆路和体育馆西路
Tian Le Toy Market
Behind Hongqiao Market, 50 meters southeast of the Tiantan Dongmen Station, lies Tian Le Toy Market, where you can find all sorts of inexpensive toys: stuffed animals, dolls, remote-controlled vehicles, puzzles, kites and costumes for kids – and that’s just the first floor! On the second floor are supplies for arts and crafts, handmade souvenirs and gifts, sculptures, paintings and wedding supplies. The third floor offers stationery, and the fourth floor houses wholesale business supplies, and a paper-cutting studio featuring traditional and modern works, galleries and art studios, as well as video games and cartoons. Be prepared to bargain! Tian Le Toy Market (some English spoken). Daily 8.30am-7pm. 136 Fahua Si Jie, Chongwen District (6711 7429) 红桥天乐玩具市场, 崇文区法华寺街136号
