Morning: Tracing the Imperial Spine

Route: Yongdingmen Gate → Tianqiao Arts District → Qianmen Street → Dashilan Hutong

Distance: ~10 km | Duration: 3–4 hours

• Yongdingmen Gate | Begin at the southern terminus of Beijing’s 7.8 km Central Axis, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate. This Ming Dynasty gate once welcomed traders and emperors. Cycle along the restored Ming City Wall Ruins Park, where autumn ginkgo leaves frame ancient bricks.

• Tianqiao Arts District | Pedal north to Tianqiao, Beijing’s historic entertainment hub. Join locals practicing tai chi in the park, or watch street performers juggle Kongzhu (Chinese yo-yos). Pop into Zhengyici Theater, a 300-year-old wooden opera house, for a glimpse of Peking Opera costumes.

• Qianmen Street & Dashilan Hutong | Navigate the revitalized Qing-era shopping street, then dive into Dashilan Hutong, a maze of traditional courtyard homes. Stop at:

• Neiliansheng Shoe Store: Craft custom cloth shoes using techniques from 1853.

• Liubiju Pickle Shop: Sample century-old fermented sauces, a staple in Beijing cuisine.

• Lunch Break | Settle at Bianyifang Roast Duck (est. 1416), where chefs demonstrate how to slice duck using methods unchanged since the Ming Dynasty. Pair with zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste).

Afternoon: Artisans, Tea, and Imperial Grandeur

Route: Forbidden City Perimeter → Jingshan Park → Nanluoguxiang Hutong

Distance: ~8 km | Duration: 3–4 hours

Forbidden City Moat Loop - Cycle the tranquil paths flanking the palace moat, passing Meridian Gate and Corner Towers. Stop at Jingshan Park’s summit for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City’s golden rooftops - a vista once reserved for emperors.

Nanluoguxiang Hutong | This gentrified hutong blends tradition and modernity:

• Pass By Bar: Sip jasmine tea while a calligrapher teaches you to write your name in Chinese.

• Studio 9: Join a workshop crafting knot buttons with a fourth-generation artisan.

Guozijian Street | Pedal to this Confucian scholar’s quarter. Visit Beijing Folk Art Museum to try paper-cutting or shadow puppetry, then relax at Lao She Teahouse with a chaxi (tea ceremony) led by a tea master.

Evening: Twilight Markets & Nightlife

Route: Bell & Drum Towers → Houhai Lake → Ghost Street (Guijie)

Distance: ~5 km | Duration: 2–3 hours

Bell & Drum Towers | At dusk, climb the Drum Tower to watch a ceremonial drum performance, then cycle to Yandai Xiejie (Tobacco Pouch Street). Browse indie galleries selling ink paintings and cloisonné.

Houhai Lake Night Market | Glide around the lake as lanterns flicker on water. Stop at:

• Kung Fu Tea House: Sip pu’er while watching a live show.

• Silver Ingot Bridge: Try tanghulu (candied hawthorns) from a street vendor.

Ghost Street (Guijie) | Cap the night at Beijing’s iconic 24-hour food street. Join locals at Huajia Yiyuan for spicy crayfish or malatang (numbing hotpot). For the adventurous: sample choudoufu (stinky tofu).