Beijing/Chongwen

Chongwen used to he an independent district. It is now part of Dongcheng District, covering the southern third of Dongcheng. Chongwen's population is around 430,000. Its main attraction is the Temple of Heaven.

Arriving in Beijing Airport you will be far north east of Chongwen. From the airport, take the Airport Express Metro (¥25) and change to Metro Line 2 at Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) for connection to Chongwenmen Station; or take a taxi (around ¥75) or airport bus (around ¥16).
Arriving in Beijing Station you will be just north of Chongwen.
The south eastern part of metro line two borders the district with Chongwenmen Station (崇文门站) and Qianmen Station (前门站) being at the border of the district. The southern part of metro line five runs down the middle of the district from Chongwenmen Station and with two stations within the district, Ciqikou Station (磁器口站)and Tiantan East Gate Station (天坛东门站). From Tiananmen the district is just south east.

Parks

• Temple of HeavenInscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the West Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. There are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the West Gate (天坛西门 Tiāntán Xīmén); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 Tiāntán Běimén). Walking around this park will take some time.

• Longtan Park

  phone: +86 10 67144336, +86 10 67167319
  address: Longtan Road 龙潭路
  Park with lake, boats for hire, teahouses and a restaurant, children's playground, pavilions, a bird market and a lot of dragons. There is also a climbing wall and a roller skating area in the park.

• Ming Dynasty City Wall Site ParkBeijing's city wall was built around 1435. It stretched for 23.5km with one part running where Metro Line Two is now (inner city wall) and one part running where the southern part of Ring Road Two is now. Since 1949 (and especially around 1965), most was torn down to make room for Ring Road Two, Metro Line Two and Tiananmen. Now only 1.5km remains behind Beijing Station. It has recently been restored and surrounded by a small park. The wall also houses a cafe and a gallery.

• Beijing Amusement Park

  phone: +86 10 6714 3611
  address: 1 Zuo'anmennei Street (左安门内大街1号; Zuǒānménnèidàjiē)
  Beijing's first amusement park. Quite large with many rides. Most rides are ok. The location in and around a lake is fine, but the landscaping is not very inspired and the atmosphere is a bit boring, especially on days with few visitors.

Temples and shrines

• Shrine of Yuan Chonghuan

  phone: +86 10 6718 7057
  address: 52 Donghuashixie Road (东花寺斜街52号; Dōnghuāsìxiéjiē)
  Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630) was a famous hero and prominent marshal of the Ming Dynasty.

• Fire God Temple

  address: Xihuashi Dajie (西花市大街; Xīhuāshìdàjiē)
  Renovated temple.

Museums and exhibitions

• Beijing Museum of Natural History

  phone: +86 10 6702 1155
  address: 126 Tianqiao South Street (天桥南大街126号; Tiānqiáonándàjiē)
  Large museum with a lot of information on nature, but some of the exhibitions are a bit old fashioned. Exhibitions cover paleontology, zoology, animal behavior, botany, the original of human beings, dinosaurs, aquarium, the human body, cells, skeletons and an interactive park.

• Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall

  phone: +86 10 6702 4559
  address: 20 Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街20号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē)
  Museum with a large model of the city, historical pictures from the city and also other exhibitions with relation to the layout and structure of Beijing.

• Red Gate Gallery

  phone: +86 10 6525 1005
  address: Levels 1 & 4, Dongbianmen Watchtower (崇文门东大街东便门角楼)
  Red Gate was founded in 1991 by Australian Brian Wallace. The gallery exhibits work by contemporary Chinese artists reflecting China's changing society in relation to daily life, gender, population, and the environment. The media are traditional Chinese painting, collage, lithographs and oil painting.

• Chongwen's hutongsTake a walk in the rapidly disappearing small streets of the Chongwen hutongs. In March 2009) is that the area between Qianmen Dajie (前门大街) and the newly established Qianmen East Street (前门东路) was not accessible due to the ungoing renovation, which can be expected to transform the area to a touristy and commercial area like the area west of Qianmen Dajie in neighbouring Xuanwu District. Furthermore, the area further east is partly deserted due to ongoing renovation, which here seems to leave things more or less as they were, a quiet primarily residential neighbourhood with few shops and restaurants. For a less disturbed area, you might want to check out north and north east of Tiantan, which is mixed hutongs and lower apartment buildings, and with a nice laid back feel and many cheap shops and restaurants.

• Chongwen south of Ring Road Two

  address: Taoyang Road (桃杨路; Táoyánglù) and the streets just south of this
  Explore the part of Chongwen stretching down beneath Ring Road Two. Here is an area, which seems to have been forgotten by the city planners. Hutongs and small shops, restaurants and businesses are thriving here seemingly undisturbed by the rapid development elsewhere in Beijing. It is a nice place for a walk into the past of Beijing with almost no traffic noise but a lot of local life in the streets.

• Red Theater

  phone: +86 6711 6135
  address: 44 Xingfu Dajie (幸福大街44号; Xìngfúdàjiē)
  Theater specialised in kung fu plays. Also art and culture exhibitions as well as a cinema in the same building.

• Red Theatre Kungfu Show

  phone: +86 18 932846209
  address: No.44, Xingfu Da Jie

Party Life

phone: +86 10 6708 6666

address: 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)

Karaoke.

Markets

• Hong Qiao (Pearl) MarketNot far from the Temple of Heaven. Worth visiting for the state-run silk market but more especially for the pearl market in the building opposite. The top two floors of this market are filled with jewelry, and this may be the best place in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones. The top floor features high-end jewelry stores, but the floor below has small merchant stalls still selling good quality pearls and other beads. Lower floors have the usual purses, leather goods, clothing, handcrafts like chess sets or chopsticks, and electronics. The presence of a large number of stalls keeps the prices fairly keen, but shop around, keep a smile on your face and bargain hard. On weekdays, when customer traffic is low, be prepared to be yelled at, have a range of products shoved into your hands and face and be physically grabbed and pushed. Anything to get you to buy their merchandise

• Hongqiao Wet Food Wholesale Market

  phone: +86 10 6713 3354
  address: Tiantan East Street (天坛东路; Tiāntándōnglù)
  Raw food wholesale market, specialising in sea food but also with other goods.

Chongwenmen Food Market

phone: +86 10 6702 0308

address: 1 Chongwenmen Street (崇文门外大街1号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)

Traditional indoor food market with lots of small stalls with all kind of fresh food ingredients. This is the oldest remaining traditional food market in Beijing and worth a visit, also if you are not buying anything.

Ciqikou Dajie Shopping Street

Shopping malls

• New World Shopping Centre

  phone: +86 10 6708 0055
  address: 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)
  Five storied shopping mall.

• Soshow

  phone: +86 10 5167 1241
  address: Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)
  Entertainment shopping center for the young, rich and modern Beijingers.

Shops

• Qianmen Carpet Co.

  phone: +86 10 6715 1687
  address: Xingfu Street (幸福街59号; 幸福街)
  Claims to be the first established antique carpet dealer in China. Sells antique carpets as well as reproductions.

Budget

• The small streets north of Hong Qiao MarketIn these streets there are a number of small and inexpensive restaurants.

• Old Beijing Noodle King

  phone: +86 10 6705 6705 (but reservations are not possible)
  address: 29 Chongwenmen Wai Dajie (崇文门外大街29号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)
  Specialised in hand made noodles, but also other courses available. Bustling and authentic atmosphere.

• Hengxingde Dining-hall

  phone: +86 10 5166 3328
  address: 4-2 Qianmen East Street (前门东大街4-2; Qiánméndōngdàjiē)
  Sichuan Cuisine.

• Beijing Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant

  phone: +86 10 6207 4268
  address: 158 Qianmen Nan Dajie (前门南大街158号; Qiánménnándàjiē)
  Established in 1922. Traditional Buddhist vegetarian restaurant specialised in courses imitating meet but based on toufu, mushrooms etc.

Mid-range

• Yunteng Restaurant

  phone: +86 10 6711 3322
  address: 7 Dong Huashi Bei Li Dong Qu (东花市北里东区7号; dōnghuāshìběilǐdōngqū
  Yunnan cuisine, specialising in mushroom dishes. Located in the Yunnan provincial office building, and the food is as expected very Yunnan. The restaurant tries to look like a Yunnan rain forest, but does not really succeed, and the service level is not impressive, but the food is excellent.

• Ye Shan Jun Wild Fungus House

  phone: +86 10 6512 2708
  address: 2A Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街2A号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē)
  Hot pot specialising in mushrooms.

• Mala Youhuo

  phone: +86 10 5167 1098
  address: 40 Chong Wen Men Wai Dajie (; )
  Sichuan cuisine. Very popular restaurant.

• BianyifangThe oldest roast duck restaurant in Beijing with a history dating back to 1416. Many branches throughout the city including three in Chongwen.

• Chongwenmen Wai Dajie branch

  address: 2A Chongwenmen Wai Dajie, Chongwen District (崇文门外大街甲2号)
  The flagship branch of the chain.

• Xingfu Dajie branch

  phone: +86 10 6711 6545
  address: 36 Xingfu Dajie, Chongwen District (崇文区幸福大街36号)

• Tiantan branch

  address: 73 Tiantan Dong Lu, Chongwen District (崇文区天坛东路73号)

Daijiacun Restaurant

phone: +86 10 6714 0145

address: Tiyuguan Road (体育馆路13号; Tǐyùguǎnlù)

Dai Minority cuisine. The restaurant is decorated in classical Dai style. Dai traditional dancing and singing now and then.

Yushan Restaurant

phone: +86 10 6701 4263

address: 87 Tiantan Road (天坛路87号; Tiāntánlù)

Imperial cuisine.

Splurge

• Capital M

  phone: +86 10 6702 2727
  address: 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian St (前门步行街2号3层; Qiánménbùxíngjiē)
  Capital M is a modern Australian/European style restaurant. It provides cuisine and ambiance of a high standard. It overlooks part of Tiananmen Square and several colourful Chinese buildings which are illuminated at night. By Australian standards it provides excellent value.

• Maxim's de Paris

  phone: +86 10 6512 2211
  address: 2 Chongwenmen Xidajie (崇文门西大街2号; Chóngwénménxīdàjiē)
  Traditional French cuisine and one of the first foreign restaurants to open in Beijing.

Bars

In Chongwen you can drink at the restaurants or on hotel bars. If you want something else, go to another district!

Cafes

• Starbucks

  address: 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)

• Manabe

  address: 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē)

• Monet Cafe

• Leymo Coffee

Budget

• Ziguang Hotel

  address: 111 Congdian West Street (葱店西街111号; Cōngdiànxījiē)
  Located in a small street in area with hutongs and narrow streets. Quite small rooms.

• Guoren Hotel

  phone: +86 10 5101 9200
  address: 2A Qianmen Avenue (前门大街2A号; Qiánméndàjiē)
  Often full. Rooms with cable TV, IDD telephone. Aircon and fridge. There is also a coffee shop and business center.

• Jinjiang Inn

  phone: +86 10 6705 2533
  address: 224 Xidamochang Street (西打磨厂街224号; Xīdǎmóchǎngjiē)
  Large chain of budget hotels with two branches in Chongwen.

• Jinjiang Inn

  address: 1 Fahua South Street (法华南里1号; Fǎhuánánlǐ)
  Large chain of budget hotels with two branches in Chongwen.

• GOTO Modern Hotel

  phone: +86 10 6707 2299
  address: 1 Xibanbi Street (西半壁街1号; Xībànbìjiē)

• Beijing Qianlong Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67012223
  address: Tiantan Lu (天坛路85号; Tiāntánlù)
  Free internet available in more expensive rooms. Meeting facilities, gift shop, beauty salon, karaoke, massage, spa and laundry service available. Chinese cuisine and room service.

• Beijing Sicily Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67107000
  address: Zuoanmen Inner Street (Zuǒānmén Nei Dajie; 左安门内大街)
  Close to amusement park and Tiantan. Free internet. Business center, airport shuttle and ticket office available.

Mid-range

• Tiantan Sports Hotel

  phone: +86 10 87183888
  address: 10 Tiyuguan Road (体育馆路10号; Tǐyùguǎnlù)
  Three-star hotel. Internet available against surcharge. Rooms with electronic safe, cable tv, mini bar and coffee facilities. Foreign exchange, ticketing services, beauty salon, chess/card rooms and massage rooms available. Chinese restaurant. Breakfast both Western and Chinese style. Friendly staff. Good locoation for Tiantan and restaurants and not too far away from the city center.

• Tiantan Wancheng Hotel

  phone: +86 10 52173888
  address: 89 Tiantan Lu (天坛路89号; Tiāntánlù)
  Free internet in the rooms. Meeting facilities, business center, beauty salon, ticket office and chess/poker room available. Chinese cuisine and coffee shop.

• Communications Hotel

  phone: +86 10-67196288
  address: 35 Dongsikuaiyu South Road (东四块玉南街35号; Dōngsìkuàiyùnánjiē)
  Three-star hotel. Free internet in the rooms. Meeting facilities, business center, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke and chess/poker room available. Chinese restaurant.

• Shindom Hotel

  phone: +86 10 65685577
  address: Building 12 Jianhua Roads Of Jianguomenwai Dajie Avenue (崇内大街船板胡同24号)
  Two-star hotel close to Beijing Railway Station. Free internet in the room. Business and meeting facilities available. Chinese restaurant and room service.

• Days Inn Joiest Beijing

  phone: +86 10 67077799
  address: 14 Zhushikou East Street (珠市口东大街14号; Zhūshìkǒudōngdàjiē)
  American-run hotel. Satellite TV and free internet in rooms. Meeting facilities, currency exchange, laundry service available. Chinese and Western restaurants. Small but clean rooms. Location convinient for Tiantan but quite far away from the nearest metro.

• Sanyuan Jin'an Hotel

  phone: +86 10 65265588
  address: 6 Beijing Railway Station East Street
  Three star-hotel close to Beijing Railway Station. Internet available against a surcharge. Business facilities, ticket reservation office, sauna, karaoke and beauty salon available. Chinese and western restaurants.

• Huanghe Jingdu Grand Hotel

  phone: +86 10 51335588
  address: 29 Xizhaosizhong Street (夕照寺中街29号; Xīzhàosìzhōngjiē)
  Three-star hotel. Internet available and partly free. Meeting facilities, business center, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, disco, karaoke, chess/poker room, pool/billiards room, massage and sauna available. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop, bar/lounge, tea house and room service.

• Hong Run Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67196888
  address: 28 Baiqiao Street (Báiqiáo Dàjiē; 白桥大街28号)
  This three-star business hotel is close to Beijing Railway Station, East Ring Road Two and Tian Tan. Free internet in the rooms. Standard business facilities available as well as Chinese restaurant, room service and beauty salon.

• Chongwenmen Hotel

  phone: +86 10 6512 2211
  address: 2 West Chongwenmen Street (崇文门西大街2号; Chóngwénménxīdàjiē)
  Three-star hotel. Internet available in rooms against a surcharge. Rooms with aircon and frigde. Conference rooms, business center, sauna, billiards hall, bowling alley, beauty salon, karaoke, shopping arcade, gymnasium and a massage center available. Cantonese, Korean and Western restaurants. Convenient location close to metro, shopping and city centre. Clean but small rooms. Friendly staff but not very efficient housekeeping. Breakfast seems to be overpriced.

• Judge Home Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67551188
  address: 9 Beihuashi Street (北花市大街9号; Běihuāshìdàjiē)
  Meeting facilities, business center, currency exchange, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke, chess/poker room, fitness and foot massage available. Chinese restaurant, tea house and room service.

• Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao

  phone: +86 10 65133366
  address: 1 Chong Wen Men Xi Da Jie

Splurge

• Beijing King-Talent Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67119999
  address: 15 Middle Xizhaosi Street (夕照寺中街15号)
  Four-star hotel built around the 500-year-old Xizhao Temple. Free internet. Airport pick-up offered. Business center available. Chinese and vegetarian restaurants as well as teahouse and lobby bar.

• Beijing Tailong Plaza Hotel

  phone: +86 10-67075888
  address: 19 Zhushikou East Street (珠市口东大街19号; Zhūshìkǒudōngdàjiē)
  Four-star hotel. Free internet in the rooms. Business center, currency exchange, gift shop, ticket office and laundry service available. Western restaurant, coffee shop and room service.

• Pei Xin Hotel Beijing

  phone: +86 10 67125588
  address: 5 Peixin Sreet (培新街5号; Péixīnjiē)
  Four-star hotel. Free internet. Meeting facilities, currency exchange, beauty salon, ticket office, sauna and laundry service available. Chinese and western restaurant, bar/lounge.

• Tiantan Hotel

  phone: +86 10 67190666
  address: Tiyuguan West Road (体育馆西路; Tǐyùguǎnxīlù)
  Four-star hotel. Rooms with satellite TV, electronic safe, free internet, mini bar and coffee facilities. Meeting facilities, business center, karaoke, chess/poker room, pool/billiards room, table tennis room and fitness facilities available. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop and bar/lounge.