XICHENG TOURISM

Xicheng District reflects Beijing as a city of historical and cultural fame.  It is an ancient capital of world civilization and a modern metropolis. The District promotes service industries with a market strongly centered on travel and entertainment.

Xicheng District is built amid the foundations of the ancient dynastic capital. It contains spectacular tourist attractions, representing the history and culture of the ancient capital. The most spectacular sites of the District include: Beihai and Coal Hill (Jingshan) Parks, the former residences of Revolutionary Soong Ching-ling, Scholar Guo Muoruo, Beijing Opera singer Mei Lanfang and painter Xu Beihong, Prince Gong¡¯s garden, the north courtyard house of the Empress Dowager Xisi as well as several imperial temples, including White Pagoda Temple and Baiyun Taoist Temple.

In the scenic Shichahai area, one of the most beautiful features is the six-sea water system made up of Zhongnanhai (Nanhai, Beihai, Zhonghai), Shichahai (Qianhai, Houhai, Xihai), and the Chang River and Yu River.

Other tourist attractions in Xicheng are the Xidan commerce area, the Beijing Finance Street, and West Chang¡¯an Avenue.

Modern museums and places of scholarly interest include the Beijing Zoo, Beijing Planetarium, Beijing Aquarium, the Chinese Geologic Museum as well as schools of first class educational level, including No.4, No.8, and No.13 middle schools. Additional attractions include the National Great Theatre, the Beijing Concert Hall and the Capital Museum.

There are 108 major sites registered by the Organizations for the Protection of Cultural Artifacts at all levels in Xicheng District.  Among these sites, eight are protected by the Organization for the Protection of Cultural Artifacts at the National Level. Fifty major sites protected by the Organization for the Protection of Cultural Artifacts at the city level, and fifty major sites protected by the Organization for the Protection of Cultural Artifacts at the District level and below.  In addition, there are twenty-eight cultural and historical sights of all kinds, and four 4A-class scenic spots. There are sixty-four tourist hotels which include five four-star hotels, eight three-star hotels, and twenty-five two-star and below hotels with a total of 32,000 beds.

In Xicheng District, the catering services are well developed with extensive offerings. Regional types of Chinese cooking provide a colorful wealth of foods to choose from and support the reputation of excellent Beijing cuisine.  Among the restaurants of Xicheng, there are twenty-five that especially cater to foreign visitors.  Those with outstanding reputations include Fangshan, Hongbinlou, and Kaorouji. 
 

The sixty-six travel agencies handle 26% of Beijing city visitors.  The head office of the Chinese International Travel Agency is located on Fuxingmennei Street.  In recent years, Xicheng District has increased the travel industry¡¯s public relations role and encouraged its co-operation with the media.  The Shichahai International Travel and Culture Festival and Xidan Shopping Festival are held in Xicheng to promote Beijing¡¯s characteristic travel attractions, including ¡°Hutong tours, Shichahai water tours, Prince¡¯s residences tours, tours of the former residences of famous people, and the water system fours of the capital and countryside.¡±  The tours are popular with visitors and help enhance Xicheng District¡¯s reputation as an international tourist destination.