Beijing Embraces Green, Low-Carbon Cycling Tourism: Explore Historic Hutongs in Dongcheng District

▲ Beijing began promoting its public bicycle system in 2012, and now dedicated bike lanes have been marked on the roads. (Photo / Oriental IC)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Rivaling Kaohsiung’s C-Bike and Taipei’s U-Bike, Beijing has also embraced the green, low-carbon tourism trend in recent years. Pedaling through the alleys and hutongs of this millennia-old capital, visitors can admire centuries-old architecture, savor Beijing’s unique delicacies, and when tired, take a leisurely stroll under the shade of trees with their bikes to enjoy a rare moment of tranquility—this has become one of the hottest ways to explore Beijing today.

To promote Dongcheng District, the Dongcheng District Tourism Development Commission expanded the “Iron Horse Royal City Tour” initiative this year. By integrating a public bicycle system similar to Taiwan’s U-Bike, the campaign encourages the public to make full use of shared resources and embark on an eco-friendly, in-depth tour of the imperial city.

%Urgent ? ???Bike tour experience (Photo / Oriental IC)

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Zheng Fang, Deputy Director of the Dongcheng District Tourism Development Commission, once stated that Dongcheng District boasts exceptional tourism resources, including world heritage sites such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, as well as well-known landmarks like the Confucius Temple, the Imperial College, and Wangfujing, all concentrated in this area. They hope the “Iron Horse Royal City Tour” will not just be a superficial visit to these famous spots, but through creative integration with historical architecture, attract tourists to engage in deeper explorations and appreciate the beauty of Dongcheng District in new ways.

The Dongcheng District Tourism Development Commission has even designed five cycling routes to explore the imperial city, including the “North Line Creative Tour,” “North Line Sinology Tour,” “Central Line Central Axis Tour,” “Central Line Celebrity Tour,” and “South Line Intangible Cultural Heritage Tour.” Zheng Fang particularly recommends the “North Line Sinology Tour” and the “Central Line Central Axis Tour.” She expressed pride in the fact that the Imperial College on the Sinology route, which has stood through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, served as an ancient central university—equivalent to a top-tier educational institution that nurtured countless scholars and poets.

%Spine? ???Several of China’s greatest ??, it is the largest ?? in Chinese history. (Photo / From Wikipedia, the same below)

Starting from Yongdingmen, passing through Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, and reaching the Bell and Drum Towers, the 7.8-kilometer-long “Central Line Central Axis Tour” showcases what is considered the greatest urban central axis in the world, highlighting Beijing’s unique grandeur. Many historic buildings line both sides of this axis. Zheng Fang mentioned that Beijing is currently working to develop the areas along the central axis into demonstration zones for showcasing the capital’s culture, with plans to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status in the future. Visitors might consider cycling along this historic boulevard to experience the blend of ancient and modern, Chinese and international, in Beijing’s evolving landscape.

▲%Starting from the image above) extending to the Bell and Drum Towers (image below), Beijing’s central axis is lined with numerous historic buildings and imperial palaces. The renowned Chinese architect Liang Sicheng once praised, “Beijing’s unique grand order is created by the establishment of this central axis.”