Gulou Area

Renovated alley becomes new hot spot
By Annie Wei

More and more people find the “downtown” label hard to attach to a city like Beijing simply because the downtown scene is everywhere. If the World Trade Center is considered the CBD, what about the new financial street? If you think Sanlitun is totally expat territory, consider Wudaokou in Haidian.

When friends flaunt their second or third newly-acquired apartment outside fifth ring road or expensive penthouse in the newly-developed financial street, I truly can’t identify. For a convenient lifestyle with Beijing’s unique charm, hutong living is the best choice. Now it’s even better because the improved hutong area combines the old with the new.

Gulou area is a good example. When this reporter was living in the Gulou area, Jiu Gulou Dajie and Gulou Dong Dajie hadn’t started their renovations yet. Now both sides of Gulou Dong Dajie are packed with everything that any young, single and socially-active person needs.

The area has a great mix of local and foreign elements like cafes and teahouses, cheap Beijinger breakfast vendors and above middle-class restaurants, roasted fish eateries, Korean BBQs and Vietnamese food restaurants. There are also many other interesting stores selling shoes, toys, computer gaming paraphernalia, fishing equipment and second-hand bicycles.

This area has traffic jams all the time because the Drum and Bell towers area is a popular tourist spot. It has some amazing treasures like the Drum and Bell Bar with a great rooftop view, Jiangjinjiu with a colorful venue for Chinese minority music shows and amateur groups who have an interest in acting and performing, as well as traditional Chinese clothing stores for children. It’s really an enjoyable place to browse on summer nights, drinking some cheap beer, chatting with friends or enjoying local residents’ leisure moments.

In the past Jiugulou Dajie was much narrower with more local vendors selling inexpensive food. Now the street has been expanded and widened, with new restaurants open on both sides of the road. Some have earned a reputation for their ambience and delicate cuisine.

The Guozijian and Yonghe Temple are also wonderful escapes for peace and quiet from the hectic urban life!