Beijing Photo Walks

From morning exercises along the paths, to the lotus ponds opening under early light, to birds moving across the water and traditional buildings sitting quietly along the shore, Longtan Lake Park gathers everyday life and seasonal beauty into one space without forcing anything together.

We followed the Liangma River path slowly, staying close to the water whenever possible. The walking pace naturally became unhurried here. By the end of the route, we reached Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park at the edge of Chaoyang Park.

This morning walk from Temple of Heaven to Longtan Morning Market is less about famous landmarks and more about everyday life: morning exercise, grocery shopping, and the small routines that shape a Beijing day.

I was not heading toward a famous landmark. Instead, I wanted to spend a morning wandering through several old hutongs that have largely escaped both tourism and large-scale redevelopment. In a city that changes so quickly, places like Dongting Hutong (东厅胡同) and Dongbi Street (东壁街) feel increasingly rare.

Beijing Ming City Wall Relics Park is one of my favorite short walks in central Beijing. It combines history, local life, photography opportunities, and surprisingly peaceful green space right beside one of the busiest parts of the city.

The route follows one of my favorite sections of the Beijing Second Ring Road Moat Greenway, a waterside walking and cycling route that winds beside Beijing's historic city moat.

Red Brick Art Museum is essentially divided into two parts: the exhibition halls and the contemporary landscape courtyard. For visitors from abroad, especially those who have already seen the crowds at the Forbidden City or the scale of the Great Wall, this place offers something quieter.

On an overcast early March morning, I took Subway Line 8 to Shichahai Station and stepped into one of the quietest versions of Beijing you can find. This early morning walk around Shichahai follows Houhai Lake, Yandai Xiejie, and the Drum and Bell Towers before the tourist crowds arrive.