Name of this song in English: Let Us Row Twin Oars(The song might not work in some regions due toauthorization problem. You can also search in YouTube, spotify or bilibili to play this song as background music)
Beijing Subway Nanluogu Xiang Station: The design of the station’s ground-level entrances/exits and other structures draws inspiration from the Beijing siheyuan. The entrance/exit design mimics the style of a siheyuan’s main gate, while the gray walls extending from either side resemble the courtyard’s enclosing walls. The building height is typically single-story, allowing it to integrate humbly into the low-rise skyline of the historic district. This design approach effectively “hides” the subway facilities within the traditional streetscape.
Siheyuan: A traditional Chinese courtyard residence, typically with buildings on four sides surrounding a central yard. It reflects traditional Chinese principles of family hierarchy and harmony with nature.
Attractions Near Nanluoguxiang Station
The area around Nanluoguxiang Station is the core zone to experience Beijing’s Hutong culture and historical features, concentrating numerous former residences of celebrities, cultural relics, historic sites, and unique shops.
Hutong: Refers to the narrow alleys or lanes commonly found in northern Chinese cities. The term “hutong” is believed to have originated from the Mongolian word meaning “well” around 700 years ago, as people often settled around water sources.
Nanluoguxiang Main Street Commercial Area: Nanluoguxiang’s main street brings together a variety of cultural and creative shops, time-honored brands, and specialty snack shops. You can look out for stores selling central Axis-themed cultural and creative products. Opposite Nanluoguxiang, with Gulou Dong Street as the boundary, Beiluoguxiang is relatively quieter, featuring many unique cafes, small bookstores, and boutiques, making it suitable for a leisurely stroll.
Beihai Park (near Beihai Bei(N) Station): Beihai Park is the oldest and most completely preserved imperial garden in China. It integrates religious architecture, the charm of Jiangnan gardens and the grandeur of northern imperial styles, bearing a history and cultural accumulation of nearly a thousand years. With the White Pagoda on Qionghua Island as its landmark, the park’s layout follows the celestial “One Pond, Three Hills” concept, embodying the essence of ancient Chinese garden art
Jiangnan Garden Style: Jiangnan, a region in China south of the lower Yangtze River, encompasses cities like Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Jiangnan gardens are celebrated for their delicate design philosophy. They emphasize harmony with nature, featuring elements like
water landscapes, pavilions to create miniature landscapes that evoke poetic imagery. The style aims to balance artificial structures with natural beauty, using techniques like “borrowing scenery” to make small spaces feel expansive.These gardens reflect traditional Chinese aesthetics, blending literature, painting, and philosophy. They symbolize the ideal of “living in harmony with nature” and remain influential in world garden art.
In the hearts of Beijing residents, Beihai Park is not only an important venue for daily leisure but also carries the collective memories of generations. This connection is particularly reinforced by the 1955 movie Flowers of Our Motherlandand its theme song “Let Us Row Twin Oars”—the lyric ‘The beautiful white pagoda is reflected on the lake’ vividly depicts the scene of boating in Beihai Park. The park has become intrinsically linked with this song, turning it into a symbol of childhood and urban culture. To strengthen this association, the park established the “Let Us Row Twin Oars” dock and a bronze sculpture in 2013, allowing visitors to experience rowing boats and relive the song’s imagery. Today, Beihai Park continues to attract both citizens and tourists with its profound heritage as an imperial garden and the warm memories evoked by this classic song.
Prince Gong’s Mansion (near Beihai Bei(N) Station): It is about a 15-minute walk from Station Nanluogu Xiang. It was once the residence of Heshen and is one of the largest princely mansions of the Qing Dynasty. There is a saying that goes, “One Prince Gong’s Mansion represents half the history of the Qing Dynasty.
Beijing Bell and Drum Towers (near Shichahai Station): Located at the northern end of Di’anmen Outer Street, they served as the timekeeping center in ancient times. Tickets can be purchased to ascend the towers for a overlook of Beijing’s central axis.
Jingshan Park: Viewing the Beijing Central Axis from the Wanchun Pavilion at the highest point of Jingshan Park is an exceptional experience for understanding the essence of the ancient capital’s layout. As the highest point on the Beijing Central Axis, it is not only situated at the geometric center of the entire city but also enjoys the reputation of being the “Foremost Vista of the Capital’s Scenery”. Looking south, the golden glazed-tile roofs of the Palace Museum glisten in the sunlight, with the magnificent palace complexes symmetrically unfolding along the Central Axis. The line of sight can extend from the Shenwu Gate through the Hall of Supreme Harmony all the way to the Yongding Gate. 景山公园-北1门 Looking north, the Shouhuang Palace architectural complex and the Bell and Drum Towers stand majestically. On the eastern and western flanks, the traditional hutongs and courtyards create a unique dialogue between past and present with the modern city skyline, such as the Guomao CBD (Central Business District). This perspective fully showcases the magnificent, continuous 7.8-kilometer landscape of the Beijing Central Axis, vividly embodying the wisdom of ancient Chinese capital planning encapsulated in ‘the imperial court in the front and the marketplace at the rear, the ancestral temple to the left and the altar of land and grain to the right’, as well as the philosophical principles of ‘Zhong’ (Centrality) and ‘He’ (Harmony).
Shichahai (near Shichahai Station): It comprises Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai, where you can go boating in summer and enjoy an ice-skating rink in winter. Standing on the Yinding Bridge, one can gaze at the distant Western Hills, a view known as “Viewing the Western Hills from Yinding Bridge,” which is one of the “Eight Minor Scenic Spots of Yanjing.”
Yuer Hutong: It houses the Memorial Hall of Qi Baishi’s Former Residence, where visitors can freely explore the life and artistic legacy of the master, including his former living quarters and calligraphy and painting works. The courtyard is especially beautiful in spring when the magnolia and crabapple trees are in bloom.
Dongmianhua Hutong: Here, you can find the exquisitely carved brick archway of the residence of General Feng Shan from the late Qing Dynasty, which is renowned as the pinnacle of Beijing’s brick carving art. This hutong is also home to the Central Academy of Drama.
Mao’er Hutong: It is home to the Keyuan Garden, one of the relatively well-preserved private gardens in Beijing. The surrounding area also boasts multiple historical buildings, including the former residence of Wanrong, the last empress of China.
Houyuan’ensi Hutong: Inside the hutong is Mao Dun’s Former Residence, where the renowned writer Mao Dun once lived. The courtyard still preserves the little swing he built for his granddaughter.
Huoyaoju Hutong: Its history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. The name derives from the “Huoyaoju” (Gunpowder Bureau), a military management agency established by the inner court of the Ming Dynasty, which was responsible for gunpowder storage and ordnance management . The hutong once contained a Drilling Ground for the Imperial Guards of the Plain Yellow Banner, and facilities such as a Dragon King Temple and a Fire God Temple were also built there . In 1969, various iron weapons were unearthed during the excavation of a local air-raid shelter, further confirming its historical function .
Daxiehe Lower Chengqing Sluice: The Lower Chengqing Sluice is situated at the east end of Beihe Hutong in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is an important hydraulic facility of the Tonghui River, constructed in 1292 under the direction of the Yuan Dynasty water conservancy expert Guo Shoujing . Initially named the “Haizi Sluice,” it was later granted the name “Chengqing Sluice” by Emperor Yuan Shizu . Together with the Upper Chengqing Sluice (at Wanning Bridge) and the Middle Chengqing Sluice (at Dongbuzha Bridge), it formed a three-level water level regulation system . This system ensured that grain transport boats could navigate against the current and overcome the approximately 2-meter elevation difference to reach the Jishuitan wharf . It supported the smooth operation of grain transport (caoyun) throughout the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties . This sluice serves as crucial physical evidence for studying the water conservancy engineering technology of the Grand Canal, the evolution of Beijing’s water systems, and the city’s development .
Peking University Women’s Dormitory: Located at No. 2B, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, it was designed in 1935 by the renowned architect Liang Sicheng (and Lin Huiyin). The design is functionalist, featuring a C-shaped layout. This three-story brick-concrete structure is characterized by its grey brick walls and asymmetrical composition, emphasizing practicality and economy. After Peking University moved to Yanyuan in 1952, the building was converted for residential use. It was listed as a Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2003 and selected as a Chinese 20th-Century Architectural Heritage site in 2018, making it a significant example in the history of modern Chinese architecture.
Zhizhu Temple and Songzhu Temple: Originally built in the 51st year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1712) or during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, it was constructed as the Beijing residence for the Mongolian living Buddha, the Janggiya Khutuktu. During the Qing Dynasty, it was an important xizang Buddhist temple as renowned as the Yonghe Lama Temple. Its predecessor was the Ming Dynasty’s royal sutra printing office, famous for printing and storing Buddhist classics such as the “Dragon Tripitaka” (Longzang). The temple complex faces south and was originally aligned with Zhizhu Temple and Fayuan Temple, forming a large-scale architectural group. However, some structures, such as the Heavenly King Hall and the bell and drum towers, no longer exist. In 1984, Songzhu Temple and Zhizhu Temple were designated as Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units. Furthermore, Zhizhu Temple was upgraded to a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2019 . 智珠寺 Peking University Red Building (near the National Art Museum /Zhongguo Meishuguan Station): No. 29, Wusi Street. Constructed in 1916 and completed in 1918, it is renowned for its I-shaped layout with red bricks and tiles . As the center of the New Culture Movement, the cradle of the May Fourth Movement, and a key site for the early dissemination of Marxism in China, the Red Building was one of the birthplaces of the Communist Party of China’s early organizations . Li Dazhao established China’s first Marxism research group here; cultural pioneers such as Chen Duxiu and Lu Xun were active here; and the young Mao Zedong once worked as a library assistant in this building . It was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1961 . Now serving as the Memorial Hall of the CPC Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing, it carries a profound revolutionary legacy and serves as a site for spiritual inheritance. 北京大学红楼 National Art Museum (near the Zhongguo Meishuguan (National Art Museum)): Featuring a collection of Chinese art masterpieces. Visits may require booking through the official WeChat account. 中国美术馆 Official WeChat account of National Art Museum:
The ceramic mural Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountainsat the China Art Museum Station on Beijing Subway Line 8 is a large-scale porcelain plate painting based on the masterpiece by the Yuan Dynasty painter Huang Gongwang. This mural, measuring 24 meters in length and 1.2 meters in width, magnifies the original artwork by three to four times to suit the spatial requirements of the subway station.
The creation of this mural was a complex process lasting six years. The design team undertook tasks such as sourcing high-resolution drafts and digitally restoring details. The final piece was achieved after four high-temperature firings (1280°C) in Foshan, Guangdong, ensuring rich layers and fade-resistant colors
. As a renowned Chinese painting, the original work is celebrated for its elegant ink wash style and skillful arrangement of landscapes along the Fuchun River.
Jiaozi Hutong (near Dongsi Station): Jiaozi Hutong runs north from Qianliang Hutong and south to Longfusi Street, with a total length of approximately 335 meters. Its name originated during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, derived from the many sedan chair bearers （Jiaozi for traffic） who lived and worked in the hutong. The hutong preserves significant cultural heritage, such as the former residence of renowned Peking Opera artist Meng Xiaodong at No. 8, commonly known as the “Jiaohuang Residence”.
Donggong Cinema (near Dongsi Station): Originally known as the Dongsi Workers’ Cultural Palace, Donggong Cinema was built in 1954 by workers based on Soviet architectural drawings . It initially focused primarily on film screenings, while also serving as a venue for meetings and theatrical performances, making it an important cultural and recreational hub for the working class at the time . Through multiple renovations, it has evolved from a single-purpose cinema into a platform for diverse artistic performances, including dramas and musicals . This transformation reflects broader cultural shifts, as the venue has witnessed the era change from collective film viewing to a thriving theater scene . 东四工人文化宫 Longfusi Snacks (near Dongsi Station): The term “Longfusi Snacks” here refers to a category of snacks rather than a single establishment. Originating from the Longfusi Temple fair during the Ming Dynasty, it represents a Halal flavor system that brings together imperial court pastries and folk delicacies, embodying the profound local culture and historical changes of old Beijing . Its representative varieties, such as Fried Sausage (crispy outside and tender inside, served with garlic sauce), Pea Flour Cake (an imperial dessert), and the combination of Douzhir (a fermented mung bean beverage) and Jiaoquan (a crisp, ring-shaped fritter), not only continue traditional handmade techniques but also carry the wisdom of multi-ethnic culinary fusion . These snacks were once the heart of the temple fair’s bustling atmosphere . Today, as a “China Time-honored Brand”, they connect the past and present of the ancient capital through gustatory memories, serving as a living microcosm of Beijing’s folk culture preservation .
Longfu Cultural Center is located on the 9th floor of the Longfu Mansion, comprising a complex of retro-style buildings. It serves as a modern continuation and symbolic reconstruction of the original Longfu Temple’s historical context . Through elements such as the imitation ancient halls, rooftop courtyards, and red walls with yellow glazed tiles, the center recreates the spatial imagery of the Ming-dynasty Longfu Temple as an imperial incense temple . The design preserves viewing axes, allowing visitors to look west towards the Forbidden City and east towards the CBD, metaphorically representing the blend of the ancient city and the new era . This “Longfu Temple in the Sky” not only compensates for the loss of the physical temple due to fire but also, as a cultural landmark, perpetuates the evolutionary logic of Longfu Temple from its past as a temple fair in the Ming and Qing dynasties to its current form as a contemporary cultural complex . It symbolizes the cultural regeneration of old Beijing’s commercial civilization in the modern era .
Beijing Subway Dongsi Station: The mural “Dong Si Memories” is an artistic work showcasing the charm of old Beijing. Located on the side wall of the station hall, it uses simple lines to depict scenes of bygone daily life, such as children setting off firecrackers, a hawker selling candied haws on a stick, and a rickshaw puller, vividly recreating the commercial culture and civilian life beneath the Dongsi Paifang (decorated archway). It conveys a profound sense of historical memory . The artwork not only enhances the station’s environment but also allows passengers to experience the cultural context and ambiance of the ancient capital during their journey .
