The biggest fear of coming to Beijing to play is getting stuck on the road and taking detours. This time, I decided to stay at Manxin Mansion Beijing Qianmen Courtyard and only found out after checking in that I had chosen the right location. Even the smoke and fire of Beijing's old alleys can be felt a little more than others.
First of all, let's talk about the most worry free transportation. It is hidden in Qianmen Dajiang Hutong, but there is no problem of difficult travel in old alleys. Walk for over 600 meters from Exit C of Qianmen Station on Metro Line 2, take two turns, and you won't have to walk along the bumpy cobblestone road with your luggage. It's completely different from the embarrassing situation of "moving luggage deep in the alley" that I was worried about before. Almost all major core scenic spots in Beijing can be covered on foot: the straight-line distance to Tiananmen Square is less than 1 kilometer, and there is no need to rush to the night road two hours in advance to watch the flag raising ceremony in the morning. It takes a leisurely 15 minute walk to reach the entrance of the square; Walking north for 20 minutes, you can reach the red wall of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, without having to block the scenic area for half an hour to find a parking spot. Even if you have to catch the high-speed train, it's still reliable. It only takes 10 minutes to take a taxi to Beijing Station, so you don't have to panic and leave two hours early to catch the early high-speed train.
What's even better is its surroundings. Walking 30 meters out from the hotel's side door, you'll see the texture of old Beijing hutongs. You don't have to make a special search for old brands, just take a turn and you'll be able to catch the old flavor hidden in the hutongs. Go out for 5 minutes in the morning, and you can find the old fermented sour milk made from ground mung bean wow gold store in Beijing that has been open for decades. Drink a bowl with a focus ring, which is more authentic than eating at the online celebrity store in the scenic spot; In the evening, walking back from Tiananmen Square and following Qianmen Street, you can find the roasted wheat in Quanjude and Duyi, as well as the braised dishes in Menmen Hutong, within a 10 minute walk. There is no need to take a taxi to cross districts to find delicious food. If you want to explore some niche places, you can walk west for 20 minutes to reach Liulichang. The old bookstore and cultural store are adjacent to each other, and flipping through old picture books is much more comfortable than crowded in popular attractions.
The most surprising thing is its sense of balance amidst the hustle and bustle: after wandering through the crowded Qianmen Street during the day, it turns into a hutong and takes only two steps to reach the hotel's courtyard gate. Pushing open the door reveals the corridor in the quadrangle courtyard, and the outside street noise is filtered out by the eaves, making it soft. At night, if you want to go out for a snack, you can walk for 10 minutes to Beijing Square in Qianmen. Internet famous bookstores and small pubs are all located in old buildings. Walking back after 9 o'clock, the streetlights in the alley are warm yellow, and occasionally you can bump into old Beijing residents carrying fans home. That kind of fireworks atmosphere is completely intangible in chain hotels.
Previously, when I came to Beijing, I always thought about filling up my schedule and checking in at each attraction. However, this time when I stayed at Manxin Mansion Beijing Qianmen Courtyard, I realized that traveling without taking a detour is the most comfortable. You don't have to waste time commuting. When you wake up, take a leisurely stroll to the Forbidden City. When you're tired, turn back and have a cup of tea in the yard. In the evening, just walk along the alley and you'll come across the old Beijing hidden behind the brick walls. This is probably the best experience living in the hutongs of the core area - you're not here to "clock in" Beijing, you've really stayed here for a few days.Show more