Pudu Temple is located on Nan Chizi Street in Dongcheng District, Beijing. Originally built as a lamasery in the early Qing Dynasty, the site was once part of the Hongqing Palace in the southern city during the Ming Dynasty. It also served as the residence of Dorgon, the Prince Regent (Rui Prince) of the Qing Dynasty. In the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1694), the former Rui Prince’s mansion was converted into Mahakala Temple. In 1776, Emperor Qianlong bestowed the name “Pudu Temple” upon the site.
The former site of the Beijing-Fengtian Railway Zhengyangmen East Station is located on the east side of Qianmen Street. Officially known as the Beijing-Fengtian Railway Zhengyangmen East Station, it was first built in 1903 and officially opened in 1906. From the late Qing Dynasty to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it remained the largest railway station in Beijing. It continued to serve until 1958 when the new Beijing Railway Station was completed. At that point, the Zhengyangmen East Station fulfilled its historical mission and exited active transport service. It was then converted into the Beijing Railway Staff Club. In 1997, the original building underwent renovation and expansion. The structure showcases a typical European architectural style. Most of the existing building has retained its original state, except for a partially demolished northern section. The station currently consists of two underground levels and three above-ground floors.
As the bedroom of the Retired Emperor, the Hall of Nourishing Spirit was originally decorated with Imperial-seal style paintings. During the Guangxu period, when Empress Dowager Cixi resided in the Hall of Longevity and Joy, she had her breakfast and dinner served in the East Warm Room of this hall. After the hall's renovation in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign, except for the Ink Clouds Room which retained the Imperial-seal style paintings, all other areas were redecorated with Suzhou-style paintings.
The former site of the Belgian Legation is located at No. 9, West Chongwenmen Street in Beijing. It is at the northeast corner of the Taijichang intersection and is now the Zijin Guesthouse. It is a distinctive small Western-style building. Managed by the General Office for Administrative Affairs of the State Council (State Administration of Government Offices), it features an eclectic architectural style. There is a small garden in front of the main building, along with four adjacent residential auxiliary buildings. The former site is currently
Houmen Bridge, originally named Wanning Bridge, is located on Beijing’s central axis, north of Di’anmen and south of the Drum Tower. The bridge was first built in 1285 during the Yuan Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Shizu (the 22nd year of the Zhiyuan era), initially as a wooden bridge, which was later replaced by a single-arch stone bridge. Wanning Bridge served as the entrance to Jishuitan (Reservoir) and featured a sluice gate. Canal boats entering Jishuitan had to pass beneath the bridge. At the time, Wanning Bridge played a significant role—not only was it a crucial water passage on the Tonghui River within the Yuan capital, but it also became an iconic site for studying Beijing’s canal transport history. Today, the bridge deck has been paved with asphalt, with only the side railings remaining, and the river channel has been filled in for construction.
Guosheng Hutong, running east-west, starts from Zhaofu Street in the west and extends to Baochao Hutong in the east. During the Ming Dynasty, it belonged to Jintai Fang and was called Nian'er Hutong, a name that continued into the Qing Dynasty. In old Beijing, there were specialized mills known as Nian'er Fang, which were workshops equipped with grinding stones for processing grain. The hutong was likely named after these mills, suggesting a grinding facility once operated here. The most notable spot in this hutong is No. 18. Guosheng
An ordinary row of French-style buildings may not seem particularly remarkable at first glance, but over a hundred years ago during the semi-colonial period, this was the location of the French Post Office. After the signing of the Boxer Protocol in 1901, Dongjiaominxiang became the legation quarter for Western countries. Foreigners’ work and daily life relied heavily on postal services, so France established a post office here to handle mail operations.
Bell Ring Alley is located to the west of the Bell Tower in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is a small alley just over 100 meters long, featuring two forks that resemble a bell encircling the tower—hence its name. The buildings along the alley are traditional Beijing-style gray-walled courtyard homes, now all residential. During festivals, many households hang up
Chaoyangmen, known as Qihua Gate in the Yuan Dynasty, was the route through which grain from the Nine Granaries within the gate was transported to the capital. As a result, a bundle of wheat ears is carved inside the gate tunnel of the barbican. During the “Filling the Granaries” festival in the capital, grain carts came and went in an endless stream. The “Chaoyang Wheat Ears” are regarded as the first welcoming deity for the south-to-north grain transport. The structure of Chaoyangmen is similar to that of Chongwenmen, with a width of five bays, totaling 31.35 meters, and a depth of three bays, totaling 19.2 meters; the tower and base together reach a height of 32 meters; the arrow tower is slightly similar in design to that of Xuanaamen, with a width of seven bays, totaling 32.5 meters, and a depth of three bays, totaling 25 meters. In ancient times, it was a key thoroughfare for those entering the capital. It was partially demolished in 1915 and completely torn down in 1956, becoming a shadow of history.
The Yuhe River is a historic waterway in Beijing. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was known as the Tonghui River. In May 2009, the Tonghui River Historical and Cultural Conservation Project officially commenced. Throughout the reconstruction of the Yuhe River, Dongcheng District has been consistently striving to protect its historical appearance, better reflect its historical value, and seamlessly integrate these efforts with improving local residents' livelihoods...
Yihexuan is one of the central structures along the middle axis in the rear section of the Ning Shou Palace, located in the northeast corner of the Forbidden City. To its south lies the Le Shou Hall, and to its north stands the Jingqi Pavilion. A connecting corridor links Yihexuan and the pavilion, forming a traditional "I"-shaped palace complex. Yihexuan was built in the 37th year of the Qianlong reign (1772) and underwent renovations twice—in the 7th year of the Jiaqing reign (1802) and the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1891).…
Wanfu Pavilion is the fifth and final main hall of the Lama Temple. The central main building has three stories, flanked by the Yansui Pavilion on the left and the Yongkang Pavilion on the right, both two-story structures connected to the main pavilion by corridors. The various levels of Wanfu Pavilion house a total of ten thousand small Buddha statues. Since the word “Buddha” (佛) sounds similar to “blessing” (福), the pavilion is named Wanfu, meaning “Ten Thousand Blessings.” The most eye-catching feature inside the pavilion is...
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is China’s highest academic institution and comprehensive research center for philosophy and social sciences. Established in May 1977, it originated from the Philosophy and Social Sciences Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It currently comprises 35 institutes, 45 research centers, nearly 300 second- and third-level disciplines, and 120 key disciplines. Its
Dongtangzi Hutong is an ancient alleyway with a history of nearly 800 years, located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It stretches from Nanchizi Lane inside Chaoyangmen in the east to East Single North Avenue in the west, running parallel to the Foreign Ministry Street to the south and Hongxing Hutong (formerly known as Wuliangdaren Hutong) to the north. It is one of the oldest hutongs in Beijing and was once among the best-preserved.
The Hall of Eternal Blessing features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and follows a "five apparent, ten actual" construction style — that is, it appears to have five bays from the outside but is actually formed by merging two sets of five bays. During the prince’s mansion era, it served as the study and bedroom of Prince Yong. Later, it became a shrine in the Qing Dynasty dedicated to portraits of deceased emperors. "Eternal Blessing" signifies the everlasting protection of the spirits of former emperors. At the center of the hall is a lotus
The former residence of Ouyang Yuqian is located on Zhang Zizhong Road in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It served as Ouyang Yuqian's home in Beijing starting from 1949. This place was once a hub for cultural figures, with renowned writers such as Cao Yu and composer Guang Weiran having lived in this compound. It now serves as dormitory housing for the Central Academy of Drama. The residence features an architectural style that blends Chinese and Western elements, with a modern brick-fronted gate.
DADU Art Museum is a work by Tadao Ando, with Jin Shangyi serving as its director. The museum was jointly established by the Beijing Cultural Foundation and the China Oil Painting Society in accordance with the foundation’s charter. After four years of preparation, it was completed and officially opened to the public in October 2013. The museum is located in Beijing’s renowned historical and cultural district, Yonghegong…
Although the "Dan Persimmon Courtyard" has only two persimmon trees, the bright red fruits hanging on the branches complement the traditional courtyard house perfectly, capturing the essence of autumn. This quiet courtyard in Fenyu Lane is where you can see the persimmon trees personally planted by Mr. Lao She and his wife. While strolling through the lane, you’ll encounter beautiful flowering trees (names unknown) and bitter melons hanging from vines, pass by the Wangfujing Church shrouded in mist, and finally arrive at your destination.
This hall is located within Lama Temple and was built in 1744 during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It serves as a venue for major religious activities held by the monastery’s monks. The main hall features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles and has seven bays along its front facade, including hidden corridors inside. Large five-bay side chambers project from the center of both the front and rear, connecting to a rolled shed-style hipped roof. The base of the hall forms a cross-shaped layout. At the center and on all sides of the main ridge, five suspended gable-and-purlin skylights are installed, symbolizing the eight trigrams and four directions of the Dragon Palace — Qian (northwest), Gen (northeast), Xun (southeast), Kun (southwest), and the central palace (center). Above these skylights sit five gilded copper finials, reflecting the architectural style of Tibetan Buddhism. At the center of the hall is enshrined a statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The east and west walls feature large Buddhist murals titled “The Lineage of Shakyamuni.” Below the murals, scripture shelves house the temple’s treasured collections: 108 volumes of the Kangxi edition of the printed-in-vermilion Kanjur (the words of the Buddha) and 207 volumes of the Dangyur (commentaries), both important Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.
The former site of the Imperial University of Peking is located at No. 30, Shatanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is a traditional courtyard house and is designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing. The attraction's address is No. 30, Shatanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing...