General Information » Getting Around » Walking

Many of Beijing’s inner-city roads are very big and pedestrian unfriendly. Distances within the city are enormous, so walking as a means of transport is fairly unrealistic. If you decide to take on the challenge, use pedestrian bridges and underpasses taking extreme care at intersections: drivers never give way to foot traffic. Walking around Sanlitun is a little easier, with many streets blocked to cars, but be wary of stray bicycles and scooters. The best places for walking are the old hutongs, particularly in Dongcheng where you can explore where many cars cannot reach. Around the Drum Tower (p.179) and Houhai Lake areas (p.165) there are many alleyways filled with small shops, bars and restaurants.