In the fast-paced life of the city, people are accustomed to shuttling between high-rises, often overlooking the charm of the old city. Xiamen, Qingdao, Suzhou, and Beijing have all been listed in the "Most Beautiful Old Urban Areas" by Chinese National Geography magazine. What old city walking routes are worth exploring in these four developed modern cities? Check out the following recommendations.
Xiamen
In recent years, "Xiamen" has almost been replaced by "Gulangyu." In the minds of hipsters and literati, Xiamen basically equals Gulangyu. Admittedly, this small offshore island does have its own unique charm, but rapid and excessive commercialization is slowly eroding Gulangyu’s original character. If you want to experience a more atmospheric side of Xiamen, consider strolling through the old districts of the main island—streets like Tiejie (Iron Street), Mianxianxiang (Cotton Thread Lane), Mianwuxiang (Cotton Sock Lane), Kaiyuan Road, and Datong Road still retain that unspoiled old-Xiamen vibe.
Recommended Route1: Zhongshan Road → Zhenbang Road → Hengzhu Road → Datong Road → Kaiyuan Road → Kaihe Road → Bashi Market
Start at Zhongshan RoadWalk northward,and in this small area, you canstill see someold arcade buildings that haven’t been heavily demolished or renovated.The final stop, Bashi Market,is Xiamen’s largest seafood market and the city’s biggest remaining open-air traditional market,where you’ll find plenty of local delicacies highly praised by residents..
Start at Zhongshan RoadWalk northward,and in this small area, you canstill see someold arcade buildings that haven’t been heavily demolished or renovated.The final stop, Bashi Market,is Xiamen’s largest seafood market and the city’s biggest remaining open-air traditional market,where you’ll find plenty of local delicacies highly praised by residents..
Recommended Route2: Zhongshan Road → Siming South Road → Hongshan Park (Hongshan Temple) → Ding’aozi → Nanhua Road → Shapowei
Thisroute is a bit longer, but the placesalong the wayare relatively quiet.Hongshan Park offers a short hike—you can reach the top in just a few minutes with almost no other visitors, and enjoy sea viewsand distant sights ofGulangyu. The route also passes by the Railway Park near Dashengli, perfect for a leisurely stroll. Ding’aozi and Nanhua Roadare a bitmore bohemian,featuring some artsy little shops without overwhelming commercialization. The final stop,Shapowei, is a former typhoon shelter where fishing boats once docked, and today you can still see small fishing boats moored there.This area is also where you can experience the most authentic Xiamen flavor.
Qingdao
Qingdao is a famous historical and cultural city. In addition to numerous European-style buildings, the city has a wealth of former residences of notable figures. To soak in Qingdao’s old town atmosphere, the main areas to explore are along Guanxiang’er Road to Qingdao Road and the Badaguan area.
Recommended Route1:Guanxiang’er Road (Church) →JiangsuRoad→Longshan Road (Guest House, Signal Hill Park)→Huangxian Road→University Road→Yushan Road (Ocean University)→Xiaoyushan(Panoramic View of Qingdao)→Fushan Branch Road (Kang Youwei’s Former Residence)→Yushan Road (Lao She’s Former Residence)→GuangxiRoad (German Prison)→Jiangsu Road (Christ Church)→YishuiRoad (Embassy Street)→QingdaoRoad
It’s a long route where you’ll be walking and stopping along the way, taking nearly a whole day. Along this path, you’ll see meticulously structured German-style buildings, uniquely distinctive churches, and historic residences of notable figures. After completing this route,you can experience the charm of Qingdao’s old town to the fullest. It’s worth mentioning thatfrom Xiaoyushan Hill, you can also overlook the panoramic view of Qingdao. From certain angles, the scenery of green trees and red-tiled roofs might even give you the illusion of being in Prague.
Recommended Route2:Badaguan Area
Qingdao’s most famous historical district is Badaguan. This area consists of eight roads named after mountain passes (it has since expanded to ten roads), hence the name “Badaguan.” The villas here showcase architectural styles from more than20various countries including British, French, German, American, Russian, and Japanese, earning it the nickname “Exhibition of the World.” When visiting Badaguan, you don’t need a highly specific itinerary—just stroll along the streets and you’ll pass by villa areas in all kinds of diverse styles.
Suzhou
“Waterways run alongside roads, rivers border streets,” “small bridges over flowing water, white walls and black tiles, historic sites and famous gardens.” In the rapidly developing city of Suzhou,20square kilometers of the ancient city have been completely preserved. Here, you can experience the most typical Jiangnan water town charm. Especially the gardens in the old town vividly display the essence of traditional Chinese garden design—bridges over flowing water, lush groves and tall bamboo, unique rockeries and artificial hills, and exquisitely painted beams and carved rafters.
Recommended Route:Lingering Garden→Lion Grove Garden→Hanshan Temple→Tiger Hill→NorthTemple Pagoda→Humble Administrator’s Garden
There are over sixty gardens in Suzhou’s old town. Rather than rushing through for a cursory glance, it’s better to carefully explore one or two of the most classic ones. Therefore, it’s recommended to start at the Lingering Garden, visit other attractions such as Lion Grove Garden and Hanshan Temple along the way, and end your journey at the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the representative of classical Chinese gardens.
Beijing
Hutongs are a major symbol of Beijing. When it comes to Beijing’s hutongs, the first place that comes to mind for many out-of-town visitors is Nanluoguxiang. But compared to the now overly commercialized Nanluoguxiang, the Shichahai area is more worthy of a visit. Shichahai includes Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai. This area preserves numerous historic buildings, former residences of notable figures, and authentic old Beijing hutongs—such as Big and Small Golden Silk Hutongs, North–South Guanfang Hutongs, Baimi Xiejie, and Yan’dai Xiejie.......Just collecting the fun names of hutongs and streets is enough to keep you walking around for a while.
Recommended Route1:Qianhai West Street→Liuyin Street→Prince Tao’s Mansion (today’s No. 13 High School and the former Furen University of Beijing Normal University)→Prince Gong’s Mansion→Daxiangfeng Hutong→Xiaoxiangfeng Hutong→Ximeichang Hutong
This hutong-and-mansion tour route features Prince Gong’s Mansion, the largest mansion of the Qing Dynasty. Whether in terms of layout, feng shui, or decorative craftsmanship, it has many intricate details. It is recommended to join a guided tour, listen while exploring, and you can learn many stories behind the mansion.
Recommended Route2:Lotus Market Archway(where you can admire lotus flowers in summer) →Huixian Hall→North Bank of Qianhai Lake→Yinding Bridge→South Bank of Houhai Lake
A more hutong-focused route,taking you throughthefollowinghutongs:No. A1 Courtyard of Dajinsilan Hutong, No. Courtyard of Xiaoxiangfeng Hutong,33No. Courtyard of Xiaoxiangfeng Hutong,2No. Courtyard of Daxiangfeng Hutong,24No. Courtyard of Daxiangfeng Hutong,5No. Courtyard of Qiangan Hutong.
Cities that preserve the charm of the old town certainly go beyond just these four. Your city also surely has some distinctive routes worth experiencing and discovering. Why not take a weekend, pack light, and go for an urban light hike?~!