Wangfujing Street

Introducing Wangfujing Street
Wangfujing Street, located in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, is one of China’s most attractive and modern shopping streets. Since the middle of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) there have been commercial activities. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), eight aristocratic residences were built here. Soon after a well full of sweet water was discovered, the street got its name “Wang Fu” (aristocratic residence), “Jing” (well). In 1903, Dong’an market was formed. Wangfujing Street has become one of the four traditional downtown areas of Beijing, in addition to Dashilar, Xidan, and Liulichang.

Wangfujing Street Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Wangfujing Dajie 王府井大街
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 3 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Shopping, Cuisine
• Opening Hours: 24 hours
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Address: Dongcheng District, Beijing

What to expect at Wangfujing Street

Wangfujing Street starts from Wangfujing Nankou, where the Oriental Plaza and the Beijing Hotel are located. Wangfujing Street then heads north, passing the Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore, the Beijing Department Store as well as the Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore before ending at the Xindong’an Plaza. Wangfujing Street is now home to around 280 famous brands of Beijing, such as Shengxifu hat store, Tongshenghe shoe shop, Wuyutai tea house. A photo studio which took formal photos for the first Chinese leadership, the New China Woman and Children Department Store helped established by Soong Ching-ling (Mme Sun Yat-sen) were also located on the street.

After the renovation completed by the municipal government, Wangfujing Street aims to achieve equal ranking with New York’s Fifth Avenue, the Champs-Elysees of Paris and the Ginza in Tokyo. Along Wangfujing Street tourists can find department stores, bookstores, old-style plaza, and many kinds of shops. For those who want to buy Chinese handicrafts, Artistic Mansion(Gong Mei Da Xia) is a good place to go. The Wangfujing Night Market is a must-go place for the tourists where they eat various street foods on the Snack Street. Traditional delicacies, such as Chuan (meat kebabs, commonly made of lamb) and desserts, such as Tang hu lu, or candied fruits make up the majority of the food sold on the street.

How to get to Wangfujing Street

By Metro
• Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Wangfujing Station ( Exit A).

By Bus
• Take bus No. 103, 104, 111, 812 to Dengshi Xikou Station.
• Take bus No. 104, Night 201, 420, T11, Zhuan 2 to Xindongan Shichang Station.

Additional travel advice on Wangfujing Street
• Please take care of your belongings as there are always plenty of visitors at the street. 
• Visitors can take a sightseeing bus at south end of the street which runs through this street and Nanheyan Street. The tourist guide on the bus will introduce the history and main scenic spots along the street in detail.