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Top Things to Do to Seek Old Beijing

Top Things to Do to Seek Old Beijing

Written by Kelly PangUpdated Jan. 3, 2024

Which places are filled with the strongest Old Beijing atmosphere ? It's a must to enjoy the delicious food and see the authentic Beijing elements during your trip, and below are the highly recommended places to explore the Old Beijing .

1. Beijing Sightseeing Special Lines -Travel by Archaized Tram

Twelve archaized trams (called "铛铛车" /Dang Dang Che/ by Beijing locals) have been launched to take visitors to Beijing downtown. Known as Beijing Sightseeing Special Lines, Dang Dang Che are modeled internally and externally on the earliest trams of Beijing.

Chinese name:复古铛铛车

Address: Public Bus Station in Yongding Gate, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 东城区永定门内公交车站

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Price: 10 Yuan in cash and 5 Yuan by bus card

2. Xincheng Sliced Noodle Restaurant - Time Travel to Experience 1980s

It's an old brand restaurant run by Beijing Dama now, where the atmosphere is very nostalgic with old -fashioned desks, chairs, glass counter and ceiling fans, and it seems as if you went back to the 1980s when dining there. The restaurant features sliced noodles, and the service is excellent.

Chinese name: 新成削面馆

Address: No. 55, Liangshidian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 东城区粮食店街55号

Opening hours: 11:30 am to 9:00 pm

Price: 25 Yuan

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3. Century Yili (Daxing Outlet) -Taste Childhood Flavor of Beijingers

Unlike the other time -honored brands of Beijing, Century Yili Daxing Outlet is decorated in a fashionable style, where star products such as Yili Fruit Bread, Yili Vitamin Bread, bulk cakes and candies Big White Rabbit Toffees, gumdrop and chocolates are available for your selection. Don't forget to buy some Big White Rabbit Toffees for your children for the sweet and delicious flavor.

Chinese name: 百年义利大兴旗舰店

Address: No. 6, east of Beixing Road, Daxing District, Beijing, in the east of Shuangxing Bridge (on Beijing -Kaifeng Highway). 大兴区北兴路东段6号(京开高速双星桥东侧)

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

4. Dafang Department Store -Preserving the Old Beijing Atmosphere

One of the oldest department stores in Beijing, Dafang Department Store has been opened since 1958. Visitors to Dafang can buy clam oil and duck egg powder, which can hardly be purchased anywhere else.One thing deserving mentioning is that the clerks calculate price with abacus instead of electronic cash register, making it an ideal place to explore the old Beijing culture.

Chiense name: 大方百货

Address: No. 4, Dongdajie Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, neighboring Beijing Logefil Factory. 东城区前门东大街4号(近台基厂)

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 7:00 pm

5. Xiyuan Hotel Revolving Restaurant -An Old State -run Revolving Restaurant

It's the first high -rise revolving restaurant of its kind in Beijing, which takes a circle every two hours. Visitors are highly recommended to choose a table by the window for overlooking the fine views of Xishan Mountain in the day time. During the night, visitors can also appreciate Beijing night scenes just by sitting on the chairs in the restaurant.

Chinese name: 西苑饭店旋转餐厅

Address: No. 4, Dongdajie Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, neighboring Beijing Logefil Factory. 海淀区三里河路1号西苑饭店26楼(白石桥东)

Opening hours: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm

Price: 224 Yuan

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6. Zhaofu Street Grocery Store -the Living Fossil of Old Beijing Grocery Store

The grocery store still preserves its original pattern with mottled walls, red gates, orderly boxes, old -fashioned bench scales, old desks and chairs dotted, and it boasts of being the last state -run grocery store in Beijing hutongs.

Chinese name: 赵府街副食店

Address: No. 67, Zhaofu Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 东城区赵府街67号

Opening hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm

7. Silian Hair Salon (Wangfujing Outlet) - the Barber's Shop for Old Generation

Have your hair cut in this salon with a history of over 60 years., Seniors especially prefer to do hair there. The first floor is for ladies, the second floor is for gentlemen, and the third floor is for beauty service, what's more, Gua Sha Treatment (a popular treatment done by scraping the patient's neck, chest or back) and traditional Chinese massage services are also available in the shop.

Chinese name:四联美发(王府井店)

Address: No. 188, Wangfujing Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 东城区王府井大街188号

Opening hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

8. Quyuan Restaurant -the Earliest Hunan -Cuisine Restaurant in Beijing

Quyuan Restaurant was built during the Emperor Guangxu's reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911), and it is the first Beijing restaurant specializing in Hunan huisine. The title -conferring banquet for the ten marshals of the People's Republic of China were held here. It's very nostalgic to eat at this restaurant.

Chinese name:曲园酒楼

Address: No. 48, Zhanlanguan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing. 西城区 展览馆路48号(近阜外大街)

Opening hours: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 am to 9:30 pm

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9. Huashi Gulin Zhuliu Store -the Daily Article Combo

As a state -run store (since 1950s) in Beijijng, Huashi Gulin Zhuliu Store, mainly deals with daily articles, especially kitchen wares such as pots, pans, tea bottles and bowls, and it's a wonderful place to explore the Old Beijing elements.

Chinese name:花市谷林竹柳商店

Address: No. 7, Dongxiaoshi Avenue, Chongwen District. 崇文区东晓市街7号

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm

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