Qianmen Street & Dashilan

前门大街步行街

Qing-style shopfronts, old brands, a vintage tram and pretty night lights

Hours

Street always open; shops roughly 10am–10pm

Address

The pedestrian street running south from Zhengyangmen's arrow tower; Dashilan branches off to the west

Walk out of Zhengyangmen at the south end of Tiananmen Square and a pailou archway opens onto a long pedestrian street rebuilt in Qing shopfront style. Century-old names like the original Quanjude and Duyichu's shaomai share the same old facades with Starbucks and souvenir shops. A vintage-style tram, the Dangdangche, trundles down the middle, and to the west Dashilan lane is lined with old brands such as the Tongrentang pharmacy and silk shops. After dark the eaves light up, and many say it's far prettier at night.