Gulou / Drum Tower
Laku Hutong
The tightest concentration of intact hutong lanes in Beijing — early mornings bring out locals playing xiangqi, walking caged songbirds, and haggling at corner shops, all within earshot of the Drum Tower bell.
Appricio · China
What to do in Beijing, right now.
Beijing is vast and ancient and easy to do as a checklist. Appricio sends you into the hutongs for the one thing actually worth it now — the courtyard, the roast duck locals swear by, the wall section without the crowds.
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The short list
What Appricio would tell you to do in Beijing
Restaurant · Gulou / Dongcheng
Yaoji Chaogan Shop
A no-frills spot near the Drum Tower serving chaogan — the thick pork-liver-and-intestine breakfast broth that has defined Old Beijing mornings for generations; regulars come four or five times a week.
Café · Dongcheng
富华斋饽饽铺
A traditional Beijing pastry shop tracing its roots to the fall of the last emperor — kidney bean rolls, flaky mooncakes, and rose-filled cookies made to Qing-dynasty recipes, still a single location.
Chongwen
Temple of Heaven
Arrive before 8am and the vast park surrounding the temple is entirely given over to locals — tai chi groups, ballroom dancers, badminton players, and retirees with their songbirds.
Bar · Dongcheng (Longfusi)
Hutong Bar
Billed as the world's first bar dedicated entirely to baijiu and rare Chinese craft spirits, run by enthusiasts who treat the national drink as a serious subject — the place to actually understand…
Restaurant · Chaoyang
Rong Rest. Beijing Dawang Rd. Br.
Newly Michelin-starred Sichuan room where the tableside藤椒 fish hotpot arrives in a blaze of heat and theatre, framed by Sichuan opera props and embroidery.
Beijing, decided in 30 seconds.
Stop scrolling fifty options. Appricio gives you the one — with a reason, and a Plan B if you've seen it.
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