🛍️ Fading Glamour of the South | A Nostalgic Stroll Through Tianqiao Department Store, Beijing🇨🇳

When wandering through Beijing’s southern districts, where modern malls and old hutongs coexist in a layered tapestry, you may stumble across Tianqiao Department Store (天桥百货商场) — a historic gem that’s more memory than mall. 🇨🇳✨ Once a shining star in the city’s retail scene, this old-school department store sits just steps away from the iconic Temple of Heaven and the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. But don’t expect a glitzy, modern shopping experience — this place tells a different story. It’s a living relic of Beijing’s commercial past, with faded neon signs, slow-moving escalators (some no longer working), and quiet aisles that echo more with nostalgia than footsteps. ⸻ 🏛️ A Mall With a Storied Past Established in 1953, Tianqiao Department Store is more than just a shopping destination — it was once a pioneer of modern Chinese retail, reportedly the first joint-stock commercial enterprise in New China. It had the honor of receiving calligraphy from Premier Zhou Enlai himself. 📜🇨🇳 Back in its prime during the 1980s and 90s, this was the place to go for fashion, electronics, and even imported goods. It saw queues wrapping around the block and was considered the pride of southern Beijing. Now, decades later, that energy has dimmed — but for those in search of a story, the atmosphere here is magnetic in its own way. ⸻ 🛍️ What You’ll Find Today Fast-forward to 2025, and only the first floor remains active, with a sparse collection of small shops selling: • 🥢 Chinese-style fast food • 🚬 Cigarettes and liquor • 🧴 Daily-use products • 👜 Some apparel and accessories The upper levels are either closed or eerily quiet. The escalators stand still, and the old elevator has seen better days. Dust gathers in corners where bustling displays once stood. It feels a bit like walking into a time capsule — which, depending on your mindset, could be charming or melancholic. Still, the friendly shopkeepers, some of whom have worked here for decades, are always up for a chat. They’ll tell you stories of the “good old days,” when crowds filled every corner, and Tianqiao was one of Beijing’s busiest commercial centers. 💬💛 It’s not a spot for: • 👛 High-end shopping • 👟 Trendy fashion finds • 🛒 Big-brand stores or designer experiences #beijingshopping