Beijing Re-Opens Historic Qianmen Street

by TravelPulse Staff
Last updated: 1:08 AM ET, Tue October 20, 2009

The China Guide is adding a new destination to their sightseeing itineraries with the re-opening of the historical Qianmen Street in the city center. Qianmen Jie is a historical shopping alley described by The China Guide as a beautiful restoration of Beijing heritage. A year of renovations based on old photographs has created a space with traditional architecture and a style reminiscent of past centuries. Qianmen was once a prosperous commercial street dating back to the Yuan Dynasty and saw its peak in the 1920s. To revive this historical feeling, the area now boasts traditional buildings housing classic Chinese brands as well as modern additions including Starbucks and an H&M clothing store. Time-honored brand describes the majority of the Qianmen stores as they have a long history in Beijing, most notable is the Quanjude Duck Restaurant, famous among locals and travelers alike. The China Guide includes a Peking duck dinner in its itineraries for travelers eager to try this famous delicacy.

Recent additions are adding a fresh element to this historic street, and that includes the Capital M restaurant. This new eatery offers modern European food while guests take in views of the historic surroundings on the rooftop patio. "We're delighted that Qianmen Jie has reopened -- the street is buzzing! And we are doubly delighted that Capital M is open as well -- we're thrilled to be part of this historic Beijing scene on Qianmen Jie," said Michelle Garnaut, owner and founder of the Capital M Restaurant Group (www.m-restaurantgroup.com). A highlight of Qianmen Jie is its pedestrian-only status, the second in Beijing, which makes strolling through the shops much more relaxed and enjoyable. The only transportation on the street is a tram line operating two restored tram cars that were once operational in the area many decades ago. A short 10-minute ride will take you between the north and south ends. The China Guide highly recommends a visit to Qianmen Street; its location just south of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City makes for a convenient day of sightseeing. The China Guide will include this Beijing sight in any of their tour itineraries or create a custom tour for travelers. For more information, visit www.thechinaguide.com.