This region, located between Qianmen Pedestrian Street and Dashilar, features small restaurants, cafes, and shops that harmonize with restored historical structures. It serves both as a relaxing space and an opportunity to experience Beijing’s rich history.
Sanlihe Park
Start your adventure at Sanlihe Park, a quaint park situated just south of Xinlong Jie, perfect for a morning walk, with a pathway that meanders alongside a small waterway that flows into the neighboring areas.
Sanlihe Park (三里河公园) is positioned 50 meters east of the intersection of Nanlucaoyuan Hutong and Qunzhi Hutong, in the Dongcheng District (东城区南芦草园胡同与群智胡同交叉口东50米). It operates 24/7.
Art-Filled Coffee Shops
Directly east of the park, there’s a Voyage Coffee branch. This larger outlet boasts a wide selection of books and art prints, though there were not many English titles during our last visit. The positive aspect is a pleasant grassy area by the water, ideal for enjoying a coffee.
On Xinglong Jie itself, two notable coffee shops include Wei Shui, a tiny establishment serving coffee made from beans sourced near Beijing, and a branch of Fusan Coffee x Little Red Sandwiches.
While Fusan is better known for its Instagram-friendly decor of blue wooden beams resembling a forest, we find Wei Shui offers the best coffee with fewer crowds. For a more upscale option, there’s Maple Lounge, which provides English afternoon tea with savory and sweet treats inside the Mandarin Oriental Beijing Qianmen.
Voyage Coffee (Sanlihe Park branch): 1/F, Bldg 3, 19 Changxiang Wutiao, Dongcheng District (东城区长巷五条19号3幢1层)
Hours: Daily, 10 am - 6 pm
Contact: 131 2650 0068
Wei Shui (為水): 85 Xixinglong Jie, Dongcheng District (东城区西兴隆街85号)
Hours: Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun 10 am - 8:30 pm; Fri, 10 am - 6 pm
Contact: 153 7521 2126
Fusan Coffee x Little Red Sandwiches (福叁咖啡&小红帽三明治): 130 Xixinglong Jie, Dongcheng District (东城区西兴隆街130号)
Hours: Daily, 10 am - 8 pm
Contact: 185 1850 0159
Maple Lounge (枫香廊): 1 Caochang Shitiao, Dongcheng District (东城区草厂十条1号)
Hours: Daily, 10 am - 7 pm
Contact: 010 8592 8899
A Bit of History
This area is also home to two notable but small museums: the Central Gift and Cultural Artifacts Center and the First Historical Archives of China. The former displays gifts presented to China by diplomats and world leaders during state visits, while the latter serves as an extension of the Palace Museum, showcasing historical documents.
Both museums offer free admission, but visitors must register for a visit via their respective WeChat accounts using a Chinese phone number and valid ID.
Central Gift and Cultural Artifacts Center (中央礼品文物管理中心): 1 Xixinglong Jie, Dongcheng District (东城区西兴隆街1号)
Hours: Tue-Sun, 9 am - 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
Contact: 010 5562 6345
First Historical Archives of China (中国第一历史档案馆): 9 Qinian Jie, Dongcheng District (东城区祈年街9号)
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4 pm
Grabbing a Bite
At Fusan x Little Red Sandwiches, you can explore a menu of creative Italian sandwiches, many named after characters from Little Red Riding Hood. If sandwiches aren't appealing, there are numerous venues for traditional Beijing snacks, including hot pot, chuanr, and noodles.
Fancy Nightcaps
If you find yourself back at Xinglong Jie in the late afternoon or evening, several nearby cocktail bars are worth checking out. One of these is Tiao, the bar at the Mandarin Oriental Beijing Qianmen, where cocktails are inspired by Chinese history and myth. Just down the street to the east is Drinker, a cafe by day and bar by night, offering cocktails, wine, and spirits.
Tiao (十条): 40 Xixinglong Jie, Dongcheng District (东城区西兴隆街40号)
Hours: Sun-Thu, 6 pm - 1 am; Fri-Sat, 6 pm - 2 am
Drinker: 44
Here are some activities to explore in Xixinglong Jie, a small neighborhood located west of Qianmen and to the north of the Temple of Heaven.