Qianmen Street
A famous commercial street in Beijing with many historic restaurants
Qianmen Street is one of Beijing‘s most renowned commercial areas. It features a collection of century-old establishments, including famous names like Quanjude Roast Duck, Nanmen Shuanrou (a renowned hotpot restaurant), and Donglaishun Restaurant. These establishments attract countless diners with their traditional dishes and excellent service. Additionally, Qianmen Street is home to many historic shops selling silk, cloth shoes, and scissors, such as Ruifuxiang, Neiliansheng, and Wang Mazi. These stores represent traditional Chinese craftsmanship, allowing visitors to enjoy great food while also experiencing the charm of traditional arts.
After exploring Qianmen Street, you can continue to visit nearby attractions like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Jingshan Park.
Table of Contents
I tasted Beijing's most authentic roast duck, Quanjude. With its crispy skin and tender meat with sweet noodle sauce, I couldn't help but take bite after bite. The waiter was very friendly and told me a lot of stories about Qianmen Street. The tourists at the table next to me even shared a snack from their table, the atmosphere was fantastic!
After dinner I visited the merchant craft stores on the street, I had never seen such beautiful silks and bought one for my mom. In the afternoon my husband and I had a raw coconut latte at a cafe, it was surprisingly good, I heard it was one of the highest selling coffees in China.
Highlights
Dashilar (Chinese name: 大栅栏)
Dashilar is one of the largest and best-preserved historical and cultural districts closest to Tiananmen Square. As the city evolved, Dashilar gradually transformed into a bustling commercial area filled with shops. This district not only retains the traditional layout of Ming and Qing Dynasty hutongs but also boasts a wealth of authentic ancient buildings. It offers visitors a glimpse into old Beijing’s street life, commercial culture, guild traditions, and folk customs.
Wupailou Stone Arch (五牌楼)
Wupailou is a landmark building on Qianmen Street, named for its distinctive design featuring five bays and six columns with five floors. During the Republican era (1912–1949), it was modernized to meet contemporary needs, with its original wooden structure replaced by reinforced concrete to better accommodate the demands of modern urban development.
Xianyu Kou (Fresh Fish Alley) (鲜鱼口)
Xianyu Kou, also known as “Fresh Fish Alley,” is a historic commercial street located on the eastern side of Qianmen Street in Beijing. The street originally got its name, meaning “Fresh Fish Alley,” because it was a hub for fish trading due to its location by the canal that served as a transportation dock. Over time, Xianyu Kou evolved into one of the famous commercial streets in the southern part of Beijing. It now hosts a variety of well-known traditional shops, restaurants, and theaters, making it a notable area that showcases the classic commercial charm of old Beijing.
Today I go to Qianmen Street with Grandma. We eat zhajiangmian. It yummy. Noodles have cucumber and sprouts. Sauce very nice. Grandma say yummy many times. We like so much, we take more noodles to hotel. Douzhi not good. It taste sour. Smell bad. We no drink it. Shop man say only some people like it. Not for us.
Beijing Fun (北京坊)
Beijing Fun is a vibrant area that brings together flagship stores of internationally renowned brands, niche labels by independent designers, traditional Beijing cuisine restaurants, and international eateries. It caters to both fashion enthusiasts and food lovers. Additionally, Beijing Fun regularly hosts markets and cultural events, such as weekend markets where visitors can discover handcrafted goods and unique souvenirs.
Madame Tussauds Beijing (北京杜莎夫人蜡像馆)
Madame Tussauds Beijing, the fourth Madame Tussauds wax museum in China following those in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Wuhan, officially opened on May 31, 2014. The museum features a wide array of wax figures representing celebrities from various fields, including sports, entertainment, and politics. Notable figures include Kobe Bryant, Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Michael Jackson, Jay Chou, as well as sports stars like Lang Ping and Li Na. Ticket prices are 160 RMB ($22) for an adult ticket and 199 RMB ($27) for a family ticket.
When I got to Dashilar, it smelled super good like tea everywhere! I sat and had some Pu'er tea, and it was like time stopped. Walking there, so many people were everywhere, and it felt super busy and fun. I saw lots of cool shops with handmade stuff. People there make things right there, and they are really good at it. There was this one little place with these Peking opera masks that were super colorful. They looked just like from the stories I heard about the opera. It was really, really cool!
How to Get to the Qianmen Street
By Bus
- East Hub of Hufangqiao(虎坊桥路口东) (Bus Stop): Located 83 meters from the south entrance of Qianmen Street. You can take bus routes 5, 57, Night 10 (Outer), Night 7, 23, 34, Night 18, or 48.
- West Hub of Hufangqiao(虎坊桥路口西) (Bus Stop): Located 511 meters from the south entrance of Qianmen Street. You can take bus routes 57, Night 10 (Outer), Night 7, Night 18, 6, or 48 to get there.
By Subway
- Qianmen Street can be reached via Line 2 and Line 8 of the subway. Get off at Qianmen Station(前门大街站), then walk south for about 500 meters to reach Qianmen Street.
Attraction Information
Hours
- Open all day.
Admission
- No admission fee required.
General Amenities
- Free restrooms
- Visitor Service Center
luggage Storage
- The luggage storage is located about 200 meters from Exit C of Qianmen Subway Station, specifically at the intersection of Qianmen Xiheyan Street and Qianmen Xiheyan Avenue. Its operating hours are from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
- There is also a luggage storage point inside the Qianmen Dashilar area, open from 6:30 AM to midnight, and it’s 200 meters away from Dashilar.
- The luggage storage fees are 10 yuan (approximately $1.50) per day for backpacks and 20 yuan (approximately $3) per day for suitcases.
Nearby Police Station
- eijing Public Security Bureau Dongcheng Branch Qianmen Street Police Station
北京市公安局东城分局前门大街派出所 - In China, the number to call the police is 110. If you have an emergency and need help, you can dial 110 at any time. Local police will usually arrive within minutes and will provide assistance with great care and responsibility.
Practical Travel Tips
- If you want to try Beijing’s traditional roasted duck, I recommend visiting the Quanjude (Qianmen Branch), Siji Minfu (Qianmen Branch), or Bianyifang (Xianyu Kou Branch) on Qianmen Street. These are all authentic Beijing duck restaurants.
- Many shops open at 10 AM, so it’s best to start your visit after that time.
Attraction Surprises
Gong Yan Restaurant (宫宴)
“Gong Yan” is a restaurant located at 50 Qianmen Street in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The atmosphere features a classic Chinese style, with servers dressed in traditional costumes and the furniture and tableware designed to resemble ancient styles, creating a court banquet ambiance. The menu primarily offers Chinese cuisine, with each dish having its own unique background and story. While dining, guests can enjoy various performances, including song and dance, Kunqu opera, and guqin music, providing an immersive dining experience.
Gong Yan operates daily from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, with an average cost of around 358 yuan (about $50) per person, varying based on dishes and service choices.
