Why Trust This Article?
- • Author: Hesham Al-Daaja (based in China since 2019)
- • Last updated: Mar 6, 2026
- • Based on direct field experience with Arab travelers and buyers
Wangfujing Street: Beijing's Most Famous Shopping Boulevard
I'm Hesham, and I've spent many evenings on Wangfujing (王府井大街) over my years in Beijing. It's the city's equivalent of Oxford Street — an 800-metre pedestrian boulevard that's been the commercial heart of Beijing for centuries. Here's what's actually worth your time.
Quick Answer
Wangfujing is an 800-metre pedestrian boulevard mixing modern malls, traditional shops, and diverse restaurants — the commercial heart of Beijing for centuries.
What's on Wangfujing?
- Wangfujing Department Store & APM Mall: International brands — Uniqlo, Zara, Nike, Apple Store nearby. Modern retail in a historic setting.
- Wangfujing Bookstore (王府井书店): Seven floors, good English section, excellent for Chinese art books and maps.
- Foreign Languages Bookstore (外文书店): Books about China in foreign languages — the best place for English-language Chinese history.
- St Joseph's Church (王府井天主教堂): Catholic church built 1655, rebuilt multiple times. Gothic arches in a Beijing alley — a striking contrast.
Wangfujing Snack Street
The famous snack alley runs east off the main boulevard. You'll see scorpions, starfish, seahorses on sticks — mostly for tourist photos, most locals don't eat these. But the alley also has genuinely good food worth trying:
- Tanghulu (糖葫芦): Candied hawthorn berries on a stick. Sweet, sour, addictive. ¥10–15.
- Jianbing (煎饼): Savoury Chinese crepe with egg, cilantro, crispy fried dough. ¥8–12. One of Beijing's great street breakfasts.
- Guotie (锅贴): Pan-fried dumplings, crispy bottoms, juicy pork and cabbage filling. 6 pieces for ¥15.
Practical Info
- Metro: Line 1, Wangfujing station — directly under the street
- Best time: Evening (6–9 PM) when lit up and lively
- Nearby: Tiananmen (15 min walk south), National Museum (10 min)
- Payment: WeChat Pay, Alipay, and most international cards accepted everywhere
Beyond the Tourist Strip
The most interesting part of Wangfujing isn't on the main street — it's the hutong alleyways branching east. Walk down them and you'll find old Beijing neighbourhood life: small local restaurants, barbershops, courtyard homes, and residents who've lived there for generations. The polished mall is the entrance. The hutongs behind it are the real thing. I often recommend Wangfujing as the dinner stop after a Forbidden City morning. Message me on WhatsApp if you need a private driver connecting both.
