Beijing Road Guangzhou 2026 – Ancient Streets Meet Modern Shopping

Located in the center of Guangzhou, Beijing Road is a cultural, entertainment and commercial street. Not just any shopping street, it is the most prosperous street in the history of Guangzhou. The average daily visitor number here is a staggering 400,000 people, and that’s on a normal day. During public holidays that number could be 600,000 and beyond.

The full length of Beijing Road runs from Guangwei Road in the north, to Yanjiang Middle Road in the south and the Beijing Road Commercial Pedestrian Street section runs from Zhongshan Road to Wenming Middle Road. There are also shops to the east and west of the main pedestrian section.

The street is quite famous in Guangzhou having a long history dating back to the Qing Dynasty. In the 1920s, it was named Wing Hon Road, later to be renamed Han Road after a famous national leader, only to be renamed again in 1949 with the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, and that name remains today.

You can actually see that historic beginning, which still lies beneath the pedestrian street today. An archaeological pit that revealed a preserved section of that road is now glass-covered for all to look back in time. In late 2025, the second phase of restoration works was completed, and the whole area looks incredibly vibrant once more.

Getting There and What to Expect

Location: Beijing Road runs from Zhongshan Fifth Road in the north to the Pearl River in the south. The main walking area is about 1.5 kilometers (almost 1 mile) long.

How to Get There: Take the subway! Use Metro Line 1 (Gongyuanqian Station) or Metro Line 6 (Beijing Road Station).

Three Layers of History:

• Underground: Ancient streets and buildings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)
• Street Level: 100-year-old buildings with covered walkways and famous old stores
• Above: Modern skyscrapers, bright neon signs, and brand-name shops

The northern part has older buildings from the early 1900s, while the southern part has newer shopping malls and modern buildings.

What to See and Do

Northern Section: Old Stores Meet New Trends

What You’ll Find: Famous department stores and trendy youth culture

Must-See Spots:

• Xin Da Xin Department Store: A 100-year-old store with a giant LED screen that lights up the night
• Guangzhou Department Store: A popular local shopping spot
• Ming Sheng Plaza and Mayflower Plaza: Hip shopping centers with arcades, escape rooms, and popular clothing brands

Middle Section: Walk on Ancient History

What You’ll Experience: See real pieces of ancient Guangzhou under your feet

Don’t Miss:

1. Glass-Covered Ancient Road (千年古道遗址): As we mentioned in the opening chapter, here, you can look down through the glass floor to see how people paved streets hundreds of years ago
2. Gongbei Tower Ruins (拱北楼遗址): The remains of an old watchtower from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) – great for photos!
3. Double Gate Site (双门底”记忆): Where two huge arched gates once stood during the Qing Dynasty

Southern Section: Food, Books, and the River

What You’ll Experience: Taste traditional desserts, browse bookstores, and reach the Pearl River

Best Route:

• Wenming Road: Turn right to find three famous dessert shops (Baihua, Rose, and Mingji). Try Phoenix Milk Pudding or Red Bean Soup – classic Guangzhou sweets!
• Wende Road: Turn left to explore art supply stores, bookshops, and creative boutiques
• Tianzi Wharf: Walk all the way to the end to see the Pearl River. You can even take a boat tour!

 

Special Experiences You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

1. Historical Scavenger Hunt: Look for more than ten historical markers along the street. Each one tells you about an ancient building or event.
2. Photography: The best time is around 4:00 PM when the afternoon sun creates golden light on the old building columns and decorations.
3. See the Street Wake Up and Sleep: Visit at 7-8 AM to see shop owners opening their stores, or stay until 10 PM to watch the crowds thin out and see the neon lights glow.
4. Eat at Historic Restaurants: Try restaurants like Dian Dou De (点都德) or Lucky House (幸运楼), where you can eat traditional dim sum in modern settings.

Planning Your Visit

Best Time to Go:

• Season: October through April (avoid the hot, rainy summer)
• Time of Day:
  • Weekday afternoons (not too crowded)
  • Friday/Saturday evenings (busy but amazing night views)
  • Sunday mornings (quiet, good for exploring history)

Suggested Plans:

Half-Day Trip (3-4 hours): Start at Gongyuanqian Station → Walk through the northern shopping area → Look at the ancient streets through the glass → Stop for dessert on Wenming Road → End at Tianzi Wharf to see the Pearl River

Full-Day Trip: Morning: Explore the historical sites → Lunch: Eat at Huifudong Road food street → Afternoon: Visit Wende Road or the Nanyue King’s Palace Museum (free, but you need to book ahead) → Evening: Go up the Canton Tower or take a Pearl River boat tour

Helpful Tips:

• Getting Around: Take the subway – parking is expensive and hard to find. You can use shared bikes in areas where walking isn’t allowed.
• Money: Big stores have fixed prices. Small shops might let you bargain. Bring some cash for street food.
• Watch Out For: Avoid street sellers offering “brand sales” or “free prizes” – these are often scams. Buy medicine or jewelry only from well-known stores.
• What to Wear: Comfortable flat shoes are a must! You’ll be walking on cobblestone streets for hours.

Nearby Attractions

Beijing Road is the perfect starting point for exploring old Guangzhou.

• Guangzhou Luxun Memorial Hall (鲁迅纪念馆): honouring a famous Chinese writer. Address: 215 Wenming Rd, Yuexiu District
• Big Buddha Temple (大佛寺): built between 917 and 971 A.D. Address: No.21 Xinhuizhong Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou – 地址:广州市越秀区21号新惠中路
• Chenghuang Temple (城隍庙): over 600 years old. Address: No.48 Zhongshan Si Lu, Yuexiu District – 地址: 广州市越秀区48号中山四路
• Lu Jiang Academy (庐江书院): built in 1808 as a book repository and now study centre. Address: No.29 Liu Shui Jing, Xihu Lu, Yuexiu District 地址: 广州市越秀区29号流水晶西湖路
• Sun Yat-sen Bibliographical Center (孙中山文献馆): Originally built in 1933 for storing documents and books, this museum is designed in the classical style of a Chinese garden. Address: No.81 Wende Lu, Yuexiu District – 地址: 广州市越秀区81号文德路
• Taiping Guan (太平馆): Dating back to the 1820’s this was Guangzhou’s first western restaurant. Address: No. 342 Beijing Lu, Yuexiu District – 地址: 广州市越秀区342号北京路
• San Duo Xuan Stationary (三多轩文具): dating back to the 1820’s this shop still sells traditional rice paper and ink. Address: No.89 Wenming Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 地址:广州市越秀区89号文明路
• Chen Li Ji Pharmacy (陈李济): a pharmacy that dates back over 400 years, recently reopened. Address: 4th floor, Yinzuo Square, Beijing Lu, Yuexiu District 地址:广州市越秀区北京路银座广场4层
• The Site of Nanyue Kingdom Palace (南越国宫署遗址): excavation site with the ruins of a circa 3rd-century BC royal palace & an artifacts museum. Address: 316 Zhongshan 4th Rd, Yuexiu District

Getting there

Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street (北京路步行街 běi-jīng-lù) Take Metro 1 or 2 to Gong Yuan Qian Station and take Exits C or D)

Nearby Hotels

It is a convenient area to base a trip in Guangzhou and you can check our top picks for hotels on Beijing Road here, and they are also on the map below. 

Beijing Road Attraction Map