Qianmen Dajie (Dashilan)

Qianmen Dajie (Dashilan) 前门大街 (大栅栏)

This has been a shopping strip for more than 500 years, and remains one of the most memorable experiences in Beijing.

Flashy lights, neon signs and cheap clothing stores vie for space amongst the Chinese restaurants and hutongs that snake off to the side. The street was renovated right before the start of Olympic Games, which becomes cleaner.

Qianmen Dajie runs north to south from the bottom of Tiananmen Square and is intersected by the famous Dazhalan Hutong, where ancient Chinese medicine shops, fine silk clothing and age-old handicrafts are crowded together. The red lanterns and bustle along both streets make for a quintessential Chinese experience, especially after dark. Shops are open daily from 08:30 to 18:00.