Qianmen Street is located near the southern gates of the Forbidden City and is one of the oldest commercial streets in the Chinese capital. It was laid out in 1436, during the Ming Dynasty, and has remained an important commercial center of Beijing ever since. The street got its name from the nearby Zhengyangmen Gate, which is commonly known as the Front Gate. The word "Qianmen" itself translates from Chinese as "Front Gate" (its full official name is Qianmen Dajie, meaning "Front Gate Street").
Architectural Character of Qianmen Street
Today, the appearance of the pedestrian section of the street recreates the atmosphere of the 1920s–30s — a period when Eastern and Western traditions blended in Chinese architecture. After restoration for the 2008 Olympic Games, Qianmen Street acquired a well-maintained appearance but preserved the spirit of old Beijing. There are no high-rise buildings here — along the street stretch low grey brick houses with carved wooden beams and tiled roofs, combining elements of traditional Chinese architecture and European modernism.
Shops and Restaurants on Qianmen Street
Qianmen is famous for its historic shops, many of which have been operating since the 19th century. Here you can find the legendary silk and fabric store Ruifuxiang, the Tongrentang pharmacy founded in 1669, the Neiliansheng shoe shop, and other famous brands.
Special attention deserves the Quanjude restaurant — a cult establishment of Peking cuisine, founded in 1864. Its grey brick building with a golden signboard is remarkable in itself. The signature dish is Peking duck, which the chef carves right at the guests` table. Traditionally, it is eaten in three ways: crispy skin with sugar, meat with thin pancakes and sweet sauce, as well as soup made from the bones. The restaurant is known for offering up to 400 variations of duck preparation, and about 5,000 visitors try this dish daily. Next to the main street is the colourful Xianyukou alley, where you can try traditional Chinese snacks, for example, zhajiangmian noodles.
Trams on Qianmen Street
One of the symbols of Qianmen Street is the retro trams, which locals call "clattering" because of the distinctive bell with which drivers warned pedestrians. The first tram in Beijing was launched right here, on December 17, 1924, and connected Qianmen with the Xizhimen area. Originally these were French models, later replaced by Japanese and Chinese carriages. However, in 1966, tram service in the city was completely discontinued.
In 2008, two stylised trams returned to Qianmen Street, which are now purely a tourist attraction. Unlike Hong Kong, where on some lines old trams still operate as full-fledged public transport, in Beijing this is a tribute to history. The carriages run on batteries to avoid spoiling the atmosphere of the old city with exhaust fumes. Each carriage is 12 metres long and can accommodate up to 84 passengers. A ride on such a tram along the 840-metre section costs 20 yuan and lasts about 10 minutes.
Alleys Adjacent to Qianmen Street
The real life of old Beijing is hidden not on the main street, but in the hutongs adjoining it — ancient alleys that have survived from the Ming and Qing eras. Particularly well-known is the Qianshi alley — the narrowest hutong in Beijing, its width being just 40–70 centimetres. In the past, this alley housed workshops for processing precious metals and the first financial centre of the capital. Today, it is a popular spot among tourists, with preserved old buildings.
Entrance from the Front Gate Side
The entrance to Qianmen Street from the Zhengyangmen Gate side looks especially picturesque — there is a large decorative archway, and along the street stand beautiful old houses. Among them stands out the Starbucks coffee shop building, which itself has become a landmark. This is not an ordinary coffee shop, but a Starbucks Reserve, housed in a historic building where Western and Chinese styles are harmoniously combined. From its third floor, one of the best views of the Zhengyangmen Gate opens up. Nearby is the modern space "Beijing Fun" — a place where old architecture coexists with new concepts of entertainment and shopping.
A walk along Qianmen is a good way to combine exploring history, shopping and gastronomy in one place. In a few hours, you can see architecture from the last century, try legendary Peking duck, take a ride on a retro tram and wander into the narrowest alleys of the city. The street is conveniently located in the centre and is suitable both for a first walk around Beijing and for those who want to discover the city from a new side.
