Want to see a different side of Beijing? Skip the crowded spots and hop on a bike. We’ve got a perfect little route that unlocks some of Beijing’s hidden spots, packing centuries of history into a peaceful, easy ride. In just a couple of hours, you can touch ancient city walls, visit a quiet Taoist temple, and see a stunning thousand-year-old pagoda—all tucked away from the main tourist trails.
Here’s your simple guide to our favorite short-history bike adventure.
This ride is super easy and almost entirely flat. You can do it on any shared bike.
Start: Xibianmen City Wall Ruins Park (西便门城墙遗址公园)
Total: About 2.7km of riding.
Total Time: Plan for 2-3 hours to ride, lock up your bike, and explore each spot without rushing.
🚲 Ride Directions:
1. Xibianmen City Wall Ruins Park
This is your first stop and a powerful start. You can actually touch the stones of Beijing’s Ming Dynasty city wall, which stood guard from 1368 to 1644. It’s just a small park, but standing next to these massive, 600-year-old bricks helps you imagine old Beijing before the traffic and skyscrapers. It’s a quiet moment to begin your trip and discover one of Beijing’s hidden spots that holds centuries of history.
2. Baiyun Temple (White Cloud Temple)
This isn’t a busy tourist temple—it’s the largest and most important Taoist temple in Beijing. The atmosphere is calm and serene. Look for the little stone monkey carved on the gate (locals believe touching it brings good luck). Remember to bring your passport, as you’ll need it to get a free ticket to enter.
3. Tianning Temple
The grand finale! The star here is the incredible Tianning Pagoda. This brick tower was built nearly 1,000 years ago during the Liao Dynasty. Its detailed carvings and elegant shape are breathtaking. You don’t even need to go far inside; the best view is from the sidewalk outside, looking up as the tower rises against the modern city skyline. It’s a sight you won’t forget.
This isn’t just a bike ride; it’s a journey through layers of Beijing’s story. In a very short distance, you go from the Ming Dynasty walls that protected the city, to a center of Taoist philosophy and peace, and finally to a magnificent ancient pagoda that has watched over Beijing for a millennium. It’s the perfect way to spend a morning discovering the deep, quiet history that makes this city so special.