Bei Jing Shi Trip Overview
The hutongs are the historic heart of old Beijing. Join us on this self-guided GPS audio walk from the Drum Tower to the Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple, through a winding labyrinth of alleyways and local color that takes you to some of Beijing’s most ancient landmarks.
IMPORTANT: There is a GPS offset in China, and as a result your position on Google and Apple maps will be incorrect. This issue doesn’t affect the offline map, so after you’ve downloaded all the audio files, but before you hit start, switch to ‘airplane mode’ (or turn off data) and you’ll be able to track your position correctly.
The tour starts at the south side of the Drum Tower. If you’re taking the subway, get out at Exit C of Shichahai Station on line 8, turn right and walk up. You can also take a taxi to “Gulou” and you’ll end up at the same spot.
The audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone’s GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.
Additional Info
Duration: 45 minutes
Starts: Bei Jing Shi, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Bei Jing Shi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Bei Jing Shi, Bei Jing Shi, China
The hutongs are the historic heart of old Beijing. Join us on this self-guided GPS audio walk from the Drum Tower to the Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple, through a winding labyrinth of alleyways and local color that takes you to some of Beijing’s most ancient landmarks.
IMPORTANT: There is a GPS offset in China, and as a result your position on Google and Apple maps will be incorrect. This issue doesn’t affect the offline map, so after you’ve downloaded all the audio files, but before you hit start, switch to ‘airplane mode’ (or turn off data) and you’ll be able to track your position correctly.
The tour starts at the south side of the Drum Tower. If you’re taking the subway, get out at Exit C of Shichahai Station on line 8, turn right and walk up. You can also take a taxi to “Gulou” and you’ll end up at the same spot.
The audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone’s GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Bell and Drum Towers, Di’anmen Wai Main Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100006 China
Most of old Beijing, like the Forbidden City, was built in the 1400s in the early Ming dynasty. The Drum Tower is much older, dating back to the 13th century Mongolian Yuan dynasty and the reign of Kublai Khan.
Pass By: Baochao Hutong, South of Andingmen Wesst Road North of East Gulou Street, Beijing China
The Baochao or “Precious Money” hutong is an appropriate name – things are a little busier down there, with more shops and bars, such as Modernista on the corner, an expat bar with live music, great cocktails, and swing dance every Wednesday.
Pass By: Temple of Confucius and Guozijian Museum, No.13 Guozijian Street, Beijing China
The Confucius Temple was built in 1302, and officials and ordinary folk alike have paid their respects to the Great Sage here for centuries. Confucius went out of style during the Cultural Revolution and old temples like this were looted and sacked by gangs of Red Guards.
Pass By: Lama Temple (Yonghegong), No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007 China
Yonghegong, which literally means “Harmony and Peace Palace” – was built in 1694, and it’s one of the largest Gelugpa or “Yellow Hat sect” Tibetan Buddhist temples outside of Tibet itself. Of course, there are Han influences in the architecture too, and in fact the original function of this building was as a residence for court eunuchs, before it was converted into a monastery in 1722.
