As a city with over 24 million residents and a history that can be traced back 3,000 years, Beijing never ceases to surprise us. Below, we present to you five lesser-known facts about our beloved city. And no, this is not your generic set of Beijing history facts. This one is for the real Beijing pros; the born-and-bred-in-the-Jing folk, the permanent residents, the veteran laowais, and the old-timers. Let us know how many of these “Beijing secrets” you already knew down in the comments!
1. Green and White Signs = North and South, Red and White Signs = East and West
A relatively simple one to start us off. If you are being observant out in the streets, you’ll see some (slightly) less prominent roadside signs telling you which ways head North, South, East, and West. The green signs point North and South, while signs colored in white let you know that you’re positioned East and West. A common saying in Chinese to remember this trick is “白东西，绿南北 (Bái dōngxī, lǜ nánběi)”, literally meaning “White east and west, green north and south.” Our sister site, theBeijinger, goes into more depth with this.
Beijing street signs indicating which ways go North, South, East, and West.
2. The Forbidden City is The Only 5A-Rated Tourist Attraction in Beijing to Close at 5 PM
If you pop “Forbidden City timings” into a web search, you’ll find that Beijing’s No. 1 landmark closes at 5pm. A 5A (AAAAA) level scenic spot and tourist attraction like the Palace Museum is highly rated in aspects like touristic uniqueness, recognition of sightseeing offerings, ease of transportation links, site safety, cleanliness, and overall management. So it may seem odd that such a culturally significant landmark closes early. But at 5pm in the Palace Museum, everything comes to a grinding halt for the night, and there’s no (official) reason why.
The Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
3. The Geographical Center of Beijing is Not the Forbidden City
Yes, this is true. No matter how much you analyze and conclude from maps that the Forbidden City (or even Tiananmen, for that matter) is the center of Beijing, it’s just not the case. That title goes to the Wanchun Pavilion (万春亭，wàn chūn tíng) in Jingshan Park (景山公园，jǐngshān gōngyuán). It’s actually just across the moat if you head north from the Forbidden City.
The Wangchun Pavilion in Jingshan Park
4. There’s No Mountain Surrounding Beijing In the South
Beijing is surrounded by low mountains on three sides- East, West, and North. In fact, this is why many Emperors chose Beijing as their capital, so as to deter invaders. But the city was exposed in the South, where the (largely) flat terrain allowed invading forces to capture the city throughout history. In recent times, this weakness was capitalized by the Japanese in the Marco Polo Incident, when troops invaded Beijing (called “Beiping” at the time) from the southwest by crossing the Marco Polo Bridge (卢沟桥，Lúgōuqiáo), in present-day Fengtai district.
Where’s your favorite Beijing view at sunset?
5. Sanhe is Not the Only Daoxiangcun Company
For those of you who are absolutely clueless at this point, Daoxiangcun (稻香村) is a renowned bakery in Beijing. Established in 1895 by Guo Yusheng, the first branch opened in Guanyin Temple on Qianmianwei street, selling authentic Beijing pastries and snacks. While it may not resonate much with city outsiders and expats, for the locals this staple chain is home and brings back fond childhood memories. Daoxiangcun has accrued its loyal following through cake-making craftsmanship and baking techniques which have been passed down the generations. It is recognized as one of China’s time-honored brands. Since its inception though, there are many versions of the Daoxiangcun brand, the most famous of which in the ‘Jing is Sanhe (三禾), specializing in glutinous rice delicacies. However, not many Beijingers know that there’s more to Daoxiangcun than just Sanhe. There’s a Baoding (保定) Daoxiangcun Company, and even a Suzhou（苏州) Daoxiangcun Store that is based down south in Jiangsu province.
Daoxiangcun’s delicious pastry delicacies on sale at one of their stores.
READ MORE: 6 Hacks for Visiting (and Actually Enjoying) the Forbidden City
Images: China Internet Information Center, Good Free Photos, theBeijinger.