With its long history and profound culture, Xicheng District is an area with the best traditional ambience in Beijing. It is positioned as a "key tourist area with traditional flavour" in the General Urban Layout of Beijing (2004¨C2020).
Its beautiful buildings and a presence, seared into its collective conscience by the events of its profound history, are well preserved in Xicheng District. It joins the rest of Beijing in leaving a deep impression, because of its profundity and steady presence in the minds of modern people. Old Beijing's footprints are seen everywhere in Xicheng District. One-fourth of Beijing's cultural relics under state or municipal protection are in Xicheng. The Rippling Waters in Autumn Beihai and Zhongnanhai, and the Spring Shade on Jade Isle are two of the famous Eight Small Sceneries of Old Beijing, which are located in Xicheng District.
Jinshan was once the highest place in old Beijing. From here, people could see the beautiful Forbidden City and most of old Beijing.
Beihai Park is the best-preserved ancient royal park in the capital. In surviving the Liao, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Beihai Park has created its own style. With its layout based on traditional Chinese myths, the park appeals to the imaginations of visitors at home and abroad.
Each street in Xicheng District is like a museum. Developed in the course of history, Xicheng's hutong and siheyuan epitomize the lifestyles of old Beijing. They recorded the evolution of the cultures of the laobaixing (ordinary people), the elite and royalty. The government is devoting great concern to the protection of these old buildings, and 13 important areas containing hutong are designated as historical and cultural protection zones in Beijing.
The Temple of Ancient Monarchs was the place where former emperors were worshipped during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It enshrined 188 monarchs and 80 individuals who had rendered outstanding service, a reflection of the important features of our unified multiethnic nation. The Temple of Jingde Chongsheng, the main hall, is one of the biggest ancient buildings preserved today. The monuments erected on the direct order of Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong serve to document China's important stone-carved literature. The Temple of Ancient Monarchs was reopened to public in April 2004 after renovation.
The area around Shichahai is full of special features passed down from the old times. Along the banks of Shichahai, many former residences of royal families and governmental elites are well preserved, including the Former Residences of Prince Gong and Chun. Nearby, you can also find many ordinary houses. The Yinding Bridge, located in the Back Sea (Houhai) area, is a scene of Shichahai and is listed as one of the Eight Small Scenes of Old Beijing¨C"Viewing mountains from Yinding Bridge" (Yinding Guanshan).
Inside Beihai Park, there is a restaurant that serves imperial cuisine (gongting cai) called Fangshan Restaurant. Opened in 1925, it has been a centre for fine dining in a beautiful locale for more than 80 years. Before that, the restaurant was the imperial kitchen of the Qing Dynasty. It now serves the dishes once cherished by the royal families.
Of the time-honoured merchants in today's Xicheng District, 40 of them have a history of more than 100 years and most of them were founded during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Shaguo Ju, a restaurant that began in the fifth year of Qing Emperor Qianlong's reign, is one of them. Its more than 260-year history makes it the largest "time-honoured" restaurant in Beijing. It serves dishes cooked using terrines. There, you can find some special dishes with special tastes.
See more about Wenchang Pagoda
 |
For
payment, trip cancellation, please refer to the Terms &
Conditions |
| For more information, please
feel free to contact us at 1-800-865-6221 or email to
us at info@chinacustomtours.com
|
China Tours 
Wenchang Pagoda 
About Wenchang Pagoda