The 11 Best Things To See And Do In Xicheng Beijing

Known for its political importance, lakeside bar street, and sprawling parks, Beijing’s Xicheng district is full of things to see and do. Whether you’re an athlete, a foodie, a history buff, or a photographer, there is something for everyone – here’s our round-up of the top picks in town.

1. Take in Beihai Park from the Temple of the White Dagoba

Park

The climb to the top of the Temple of the White Dagoba can be challenging, as it’s a steep set of snaking stairs lead up the mostly forgotten relic. While the climb can seem a bit daunting, it is well worth it. Successful tourists who reach the top of the temple’s stairs will be rewarded with a beautiful bird’s eye view that overlooks Beihai Park below. Not only will Beihai Park be in vision, but the Temple of the White Dagoba will be clearly visible – from here, climbers can explore the temple’s exterior.

3. Step back in time at the street-side shops of Liulichang Street

Shop

Beijing-Liulichang_Dongjie-10-Pinsel-gje

Walking through Liulichang Street is what you could assume walking through history would be like; stall after stall, filled with copies of relics from the past, occupy the bustling street, and vendors sit and wait hoping to sell something, anything. The busy street is home to calligraphy sets and Chinese trinkets galore. For some foreigners, Liulichang Street presents the perfect opportunity to attempt to barter for souvenirs, while for others, the street poses an opportunity to glance into China’s past.

5. Learn about history at the Beijing Capital Museum

Museum

For history buffs, visiting the Beijing Capital Museum in Xicheng district is an absolute must. Rich in history, the museum is a comprehensive introduction to the history of Beijing. Visitors here can expect to come across an array of exhibitions that briefly dive into some of the most interesting, as well as important parts of Beijing’s past. While the museum is a bit on the smaller side, it is jam-packed with historical relics and information. If you are planning a trip to the Beijing Capital Museum, be sure to have your passport ready to gain admission into the exhibits.

6. Spend a day shopping in Dashilar

Shop

Dashilar is a sprawling area in the Xicheng district where new meets old. Modern-day shops occupy the historic buildings that stand proudly in Dashilar. Bronze statues that have frozen Beijing’s past in time are scattered throughout the area, depicting locals, both young and old, performing daily tasks. A tram runs through the middle of one of Dashilar’s streets, adding a charming feel to the area. Dashilar, with its rich history and variety of modern-day amenities, is a wonderful place to waste a day away while in Xicheng.

Try authentic street food from Beijing Old Station Food Street

Stretching across a section of Xicheng is a bustling street full of food. With everything under the sun skewered and ready to be eaten, the choice of what to look at and eat first and then after, and then again after that gets increasingly difficult as you continue to stroll down the street. For adventurous eaters and curious foreigners, Beijing’s Old Station Food Street is an absolute joy to explore. The rows of food stalls look almost never-ending at times, as does the variety of street food served at them – skewered scorpions, starfish, and tarantulas stick out of booths, while butchers, dumpling shops, and fruit markets occupy the stalls nearby.

Beijing Old Station Food Street, Qianmen Main Street, Beijing, China

Some of these suckers were still twitching on the stick!

7. Feel like royalty at Prince Gong’s Mansion

Museum

For an enchanting look into the history of Beijing, visiting Prince Gong’s Mansion is a must. The palace grounds – which are home to the elegant mansion of Prince Gong, beautiful views of water, a luscious garden, and paths that weave like snakes around it all – are truly magical. Visitors here can expect to spend a couple of hours exploring the mansion’s land in order to immerse themselves in its rich history. While strolling through the mansion, visitors have the chance to see preserved relics from Prince Gong’s past.

8. Go bar hopping down Houhai Bar Street

Bar, Chinese

By day, Houhai Bar Street is reserved and scenic. Food stalls line the street that snake along Houhai Lake and tourists and locals weave in and out of shops that occupy the area. The view from the bar street is lovely, and although it can be crowded at times, the walk is relaxing. Fast forward to nighttime. As the day turns into night, Houhai Bar Street goes from benign to bustling – crowds of people occupy the street, hopping bar to bar, live music billows out of the buildings, and darkness shrouds the lake.

9. Learn about traditional Chinese tea at Alice’s Tea House

Tea Room, Tea , Chinese

China’s tea culture is the real deal, and is an essential thing to get acquainted with whether you are just visiting, or are looking to make the country your home. This being said, a perfect way to quickly immerse yourself into this part of the culture is to visit a traditional tea house. Luckily for you, one of Beijing’s best tea houses is located in the Xicheng district. Alice’s Tea House is a tiny tea shop with a homey feel to it. The owner welcomes anyone – whether you have any knowledge about tea, or not – with open arms into her shop. At Alice’s Tea House, visitors can sit down with the owner to discuss the history of tea, as well as tea types – she’ll even happily offer you samples of teas she has in the shops.

10. Take a stroll through Beihai Park

Park

Filled with history and stunning lake views, this urban park is a sprawling 171 acres of land in the Xicheng district. First constructed during the 11th century, Beihai Park has stood the test of time, and remains one of the most prominent parks in Beijing. Occupying the center of the park is an enormous lake boasting beautiful views. Visitors can choose to view Beihai Park from the water via a boat, or by means of walking. Due to the park’s massive size, taking a stroll around it, in completion, will take roughly an hour and a half. Although the walk may seem lengthy, because the it’s so rich in history and populated with visitors, there is never a dull moment here at this beautiful spot.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.