Winter in Beijing | Gulou Street Winter Citywalk Guide

Winter in Beijing is a love-hate relationship. Love the unparalleled sunny days ☀ Hate the cold that makes you scratch your head 🥶 Hello, I am a native Beijinger, Orange 🍊 🏮Winter walking route: history + fireworks + warm food + literary escape from the cold --- 🏯History and Culture 1️⃣Bell and Drum Tower Square 📍Landmark: The red walls and gray tiles of the Bell and Drum Tower are even more ancient after the winter snow. You can listen to the drum at 10 am/2 pm (tickets are required to climb the tower). ☕️Warmth: The second-floor terrace of "Still Water Coffee" next to the square, where you can enjoy a hot drink and overlook the street view of the Drum Tower. 2️⃣Yandai Xiejie 🎏Beijing-style Hutong: The Qing Dynasty "Xiejie Market" style, recommended to send a postcard at "Daqing Post Office", the winter window decoration is perfect for taking pictures. 3️⃣Yinding Bridge, Houhai ❄️Winter scenery: When the lake is frozen, it looks like a glass mirror. In the evening, you can see the sunset on the ice by the bridge, and you will instantly travel back to old Beijing. --- 🍲Warm food 1️⃣Copper pot hot pot "Jubaoyuan (Gulou Store)": Old brand clear water mutton hot pot, with sesame sauce and sesame seed cake, charcoal copper pot to drive away the cold. "Nanmen Hot Pot (Houhai Store)": Enjoy the ice lake view from the window, recommended fresh cut lamb brain. 2️⃣Hutong snacks "Wang Pangzi Donkey Meat Fire": Freshly baked fire + donkey soup, 20 yuan per person is full. "Qiu Li Xiang": Sugar-fried chestnuts 🌰+ rock sugar haws, a winter ritual to eat while walking. 3️⃣Sweet drinks "Tea Soup Li": Almond tea, cheese rolls, hot old Beijing sweet soup. "Longyan Tea Shop": A local milk tea shop, recommended rice milk tea (three points sugar + hot drink). --- 📸Literary escape from the cold 1️⃣Hidden coffee shop "Sugar House Coffee (Shichahai Store)": Top floor terrace 360° view of the Drum Tower + Houhai, must order "Persimmon Ruyi" special drink. "Still Water": Zen space in the courtyard, cooking tea around the stove is very healing. 2️⃣Niche bookstore "Zhengyang Bookstore": Old Beijing-themed bookstore under the brick tower, flipping through yellowed atlases, the cat shopkeeper accompanies you to warm up. "Typist Bookstore": Movie and drama theme, the second floor window seat can overlook the Drum Tower. 3️⃣Nightlife "Jiangjinjiu Livehouse": Listen to an independent band performance, the indoor atmosphere is hot in winter🔥. --- ⛸️Winter experience 1️⃣Shichahai Ice Rink (late December to February) Choose the traditional ice car area, slide on the ice to find childhood memories, the ice surface at sunset is a natural soft light filter. 2️⃣Hutong snow photography Recommended route: Lingdang Hutong → Guowang Hutong, snow after the blue bricks and gray tiles hanging red lanterns, seconds out of the movie sense of the film. 3️⃣Old bathhouse culture "Shangyin Spring": Experience the Beijing-style bathhouse after a long walk, soak in the hot spring + pear soup, completely drive away the cold 🧖. --- 🚶Walking route reference Morning: Bell and Drum Tower Square → Yandai Xiejie → Yinding Bridge Lunch: Jubaoyuan Hot Pot Afternoon: Houhai Ice Rink → Zhengyang Bookstore → Sugar House Coffee Evening: Lingdang Hutong Walk → Tea Soup Li Dessert Night: Jiangjinjiu Livehouse/Shichahai Bar Street --- ⚠️Winter Tips - Dress: Windproof jacket + snow boots + touch screen gloves (no cold hands when taking pictures) - Cold-proof: Carry a warm baby with you, some cafes offer free hot water bags - Ice rink opening hours: 9:00-17:00 daily, it is recommended to go in the morning on weekdays when there are fewer people Winter Drum Tower, half is the weight of history, half is the hot fireworks, only by walking slowly can you taste the flavor ❄️✨