Sanlitun

Beijing, China

Embassy district turned nightlife hub—international restaurants, rooftop bars, and designer shopping at Taikoo Li.

Places in Sanlitun

TIAMO An early-2025 Sanlitun opening built around handmade pasta, an offshoot of OTIUM. Simple, accurate, satisfying.

Best time to visit: September to November brings clear skies, comfortable temperatures, autumn light. April to May offers spring warmth. December to February cold and air quality suffering. June to August humid and crowded.
Getting around: Subway system extensive and efficient. Taxis cheap via app (WeChat or Alipay). Bicycles increasingly popular. Walking through hutongs reveals authentic Beijing. Avoid driving.
Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY). Mobile payment (WeChat, Alipay) essential. Foreign cards often declined.
Language: Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua). Very limited English. Translation apps essential.
Timezone: China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8
Current trends: Fine dining scene continuing to rise with refined Peking duck and regional Chinese cuisines elevated to fine dining. Hutong neighbourhoods gentrifying with galleries, studios, restaurants whilst attempting to preserve character. Street food culture remains vital.

Dongcheng (East City) — The imperial heart containing the Forbidden City, Tiananmen, and the best-preserved hutongs. Beijing's must-see district.
Gulou (Drum Tower) — The most atmospheric hutong area, now filled with indie shops, craft bars, and music venues. Young Beijing's favorite neighborhood.
Forbidden City area — Historic heart with imperial palaces and temples. Tourist-heavy but genuinely essential. Museums and cultural institutions cluster here.
Hutong (Old City alleyways) — Traditional neighbourhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard homes. Gentrifying rapidly but authentic character visible.
Chaoyang District — Modern commercial and residential area with contemporary development, embassies, modern restaurants. Less historic but functionally important.