Source:Xihuan
According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, 147 key scenic sites and areas in Beijing received a total of 7.81 million visits during the Spring Festival holiday, which took place between Feb. 11-17 this year, accounting for 83.8% of that during the 2019 holiday. Total revenue reached around 612 million yuan ($94.81 million), 1.9 times that during the same period last year.
Here, we take a look at the 10 most-visited scenic sites in Beijing during the week-long traditional holiday.
10. Shichahai scenic area
Sightseers visit the Shichahai scenic area decorated with red lanterns, Feb. 15, 2021.
Location: Xicheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 202,000
Shichahai, the only open water landscape in the capital, consists of Qianhai (Front Lake), Houhai (Rear Lake) and Xihai (West Lake). Besides its ancient temples and historic sites, the area also features a variety of hutongs, restaurants, bars, cafes and boutiques.
9. Summer Palace
Tourists visit the Summer Palace to celebrate the Year of the Ox, Feb. 15, 2021.
Location: Haidian district, Beijing
Total visits: 204,300
The Summer Palace is an imperial garden built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) in the northwest outskirts of Beijing. Covering an area of 290 hectares, the park consists mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, with halls, towers, galleries, pavilions and bridges adding charm to the scenic spot. In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace to its World Heritage List.
8. Beijing Zoo
Visitors take pictures of a 2-year-old female panda cub, a new addition to Beijing Zoo, Feb. 17, 2021.
Location: Xicheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 205,000
Beijing Zoo is China’s oldest public zoo, having opened its doors in 1907, and is home to the country’s widest variety of animals. The zoo mainly exhibits wild and rare species from China, with the giant pandas being one of the most-loved attractions. Other popular species include the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys, Siberian tigers, white-lipped deer and polar bears.
7. Dashilan Street
The entrance gate to Dashilan Street, Feb. 7, 2021.
Location: Xicheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 236,000
Dashilan is located to the south of Tiananmen Square and west of Qianmen Street. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Dashilan has been a center for commerce for nearly 600 years. Here, visitors can enjoy traditional Beijing snacks and explore old-brand stores, such as the prestigious TCM pharmacy Tongrentang and silk shop Ruifuxiang.
6. Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park
Tourists visit Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park, Feb. 16, 2021.
Location: Dongcheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 248,700
Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors would worship heaven in the hope of a good harvest. It was turned into a public park in 1918 and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.
5. Fangshan Capital Outlets
A view of the Capital Outlets in Fangshan district, Dec. 22, 2019.
Location: Fangshan district, Beijing
Total visits: 274,000
Fangshan Capital Outlets is a high-end commercial complex housing more than 200 renowned international brands, including Armani, Timberland and Hush Puppies. The site also integrates leisure and entertainment, children’s activities, restaurants, and community services, offering an ideal destination for both shopping and sightseeing.
4. Nanluoguxiang pedestrian street
Citizens stroll along the Nanluoguxiang pedestrian street on the first night of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Feb. 12, 2021.
Location: Dongcheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 424,000
Dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the nearly 800 meter-long Nanluoguxiang is a trendy and popular tourist spot in Beijing famous for its boutiques, restaurants, bars and well-preserved traditional courtyard homes.
3. Fun Capital
Wanda Plaza at the Fun Capital in Beijing’s suburban Changping district, Jan. 2, 2021.
Location: Changping district, Beijing
Total visits: 529,000
Composed mainly of an outlet shopping center, Marriott hotel and amusement park, Fun Capital is a large commercial district offering services including shopping, dining, leisure activities, cultural entertainment and conference venues.
2. Qianmen Street
Tourists sample sugar-coated haws on Qianmen Street, Feb. 17, 2021.
Location: Dongcheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 624,000
Located along Beijing’s central axis to the south of Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Street is one of the oldest and best-known shopping districts in Beijing. As a symbol of genuine local culture, the pedestrian street combines modernity with traditional Chinese architecture and culture. Here, visitors can find time-honored brands such as Quanjude Peking roast duck and Qinglinchun tea shop, and enjoy traditional folk culture like sugar figure blowing art.
1. Wangfujing Street
Shoppers walk in front of the Beijing Department Store on Wangfujing Street, Feb. 17, 2021.
Location: Dongcheng district, Beijing
Total visits: 895,000
Wangfujing Street is an iconic commercial area and tourist attraction which is more than a century old. The 892-meter-long pedestrian street features a mix of large shopping malls, such as the Beijing Department Store and Beijing Apm, and smaller retail shops. It is also home to two large bookstores — the Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore and the Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore — and St. Joseph’s Church, also known as Wangfujing Church.
