Wudaoying/Guozijian
Wudaoying Hutong is quite close to the Lama Temple, Yonghe Temple (the highest-standard Buddhist temple in the country in the middle and late Qing Dynasty). Starting from the eldest sister of Yonghe Temple in the east, To the west is Andingmennei Street, an alley running east-west.
Speaking of the famous alleys in Beijing, you must have heard of Nanluogu Alley, which is similar to Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu, and Tianzifang in Shanghai and is overcrowded. It is now very different. Worth a visit. Wudaoying Hutong is a bit like Nanluogu Alley before it became popular. The small shops on both sides of the alley still have a fresh and artistic atmosphere.
I won’t say much about coffee bars, each one has different characteristics. Near Andingmen Nei Street, there is a Spanish paella "Saffron" that is pretty good. If you happen to come out of the entrance of Yonghe Temple in the east, walk a little further north and cross the Yonghe Temple Bridge to find "Jindingxuan" which is also quite delicious. But there are a lot of little houses along the way that offer fortune telling, Ziwei Dou Shu, and feudal superstitions. Don’t trust any of them. They are all shops that cheat money by watching people order food. If you really want to worship Buddha, buy tickets and go inside Yonghe Temple.
The Imperial College is also nearby, about fifty meters walk. It was the highest institution of learning and educational administrative agency established by the state in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is probably the Ministry of Education today. Many students come here for a walk before the exam to try their luck. Surrounded by green trees, cicadas are squawking. I agree to relax my mood, but since I have to burn incense and kowtow and kneel in front of the statue, I think it’s better to forget it. The stone statue really can't memorize one more word for you. . . If you don't work hard, all the ten thousand kowtows will be in vain.
When I came out of the Imperial College, there was a good store selling new Chinese furniture next to it. We won’t mention the name of Ji Laogui. Let’s have a cup of tea in their yard and look at the five spines and six animals. With the blue sky opening out of the patio, it is also a happy half-day to sit and take a rest.
How to get here:
The subway is the most convenient. Both Metro Line 2 and Line 5 can reach Yonghegong Station. From under the wall of Yonghegong, you can go to all the places I just mentioned. Don't come by car. Finding a parking space will make you doubt your life. All vacant seats will be posted with signs, and there are cars in places that are not posted. If you have to drive, you can go to Andingmen Nei Street to try your luck for an hour.
National Center for the Performing Arts
The National Center for the Performing Arts is on West Chang'an Street, diagonally opposite Tiananmen Square and neighbor to the Great Hall of the People. Promotional pages for one-day tours in Beijing will always mention Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Bird's Nest, Water Cube, and National Grand Theater. In fact, at most they only take you for a walk around and take photos, which is very casual. As the highest performing arts center in China, the National Center for the Performing Arts is definitely one of the best in terms of the selection of repertoire, the quality of its actors and troupe, and the richness of its performance types. The National Center for the Performing Arts is still worth spending an evening here to listen to an opera, a concert, or watch a play. World-class performance level, this kind of experience is not something that can be embraced anytime and anywhere in China.
The architectural concept of the theater is to float on the water and be immersive. After entering the north gate, you will first see a long underwater corridor. There are different exhibitions on both sides of the corridor regularly. When you reach the entrance in front of the three theaters After the Olive Hall, go up the escalator to the public hall. You can see the world's largest dome made of titanium metal plates, which is very shocking.
If you are interested in large-scale architecture and performing arts, the National Center for the Performing Arts is a must-visit. You are not allowed to bring food or water to the performance, and you are not allowed to take photos or videos. If there is any violation, a staff member will shine a green laser light on your screen, which is still very embarrassing. Important performances will block cell phone signals, allowing the audience to enjoy a concert in peace. If you are late, you can only wait for the staff to arrange before entering between chapters or during the intermission to ensure the audience's listening experience.
It is recommended to come back when you are full. Firstly, there is not much food nearby, and secondly, the cafe water bar only offers simple meals such as orange juice sandwiches, and the quality is average. You can come a little early and browse the music souvenir shop, which is quite interesting.