Beijing's cityscape is a condensed history, and a walk through it can take you all the way from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, through the Republic of China, and up to modern times. If there's one place where you can get the best feel of the Republic of China, the Xisi neighborhood is one of my favorite hutongs. Here a lot of cultural relics with a hundred years of history, there are trendy street stores, and more than a hundred years old delicious company, looking for the roots of the Imperial City under the fireworks, this route is the right choice!

Route: Fuchengmennei Street - Xisi North Street -? Dahongluo Factory Street --Xishiku Street --Xi'anmen Street? --Xisi South Street

Stop 1: Imaizumi Hongci Guangji Temple

The Guangji Temple on Fuchengmennei Street is an ancient temple with a long history of more than 500 years. I stepped into the temple with full of respect and found many precious relics and Buddhist literature collected in the Shari Pavilion and other hall rooms. Each exhibit highlighted the heaviness of history. As I delved into the Buddhist culture, I was also struck by the solemn atmosphere of the place. After a 200-meter walk, I was also fortunate enough to visit the temple of the successive emperors, which made me even more interested in Chinese history.

Stop 2: Xishiku Catholic Church Xishiku Street

The Catholic Church on Xishiku Street is one of the largest and oldest churches in Beijing. The main body of the building is in Gothic style, exuding a solemn atmosphere. When I arrived here, the moonflowers were in full bloom in May, and the flowery canals added a romantic flavor to the church. I left this beautiful sight behind to record this unforgettable moment through photographs.

Stop 3: 1901 Café and Huatian Yanji Cold Noodles

1901 Café is located in a converted European-style building in the annex of Xishiku Church, so named because the church was built in 1901. I found a slice of peace and quiet on this bustling street corner, especially on the second floor where the dining environment is perfect for relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee or reading a book. Considering the weather has been warming up lately, there's no better place to enjoy a cold noodle dish for lunch! I've heard that many people come from far and wide to savor the unique taste of Yanji cold noodles.

Stop 4: Geological Museum of China

The Geological Museum of China, located on Xisi South Street, is a building with a long history dating back to the Republic of China. As a comprehensive geology museum, it has a rich collection of geological specimens, more than 550,000 pieces. The museum displays a wide range of geological fields, with ore specimens being the most famous. However, for dinosaur enthusiasts like me, the most exciting ones are the dinosaur fossils such as the Giant Shantungosaurus and the Chinese Dragon Bird. Here, it is as if I traveled through time and space and touched the footsteps of ancient life up close.

Stop 5: Zhengyang Bookstore

At the Zhengyang Bookstore on Xisi South Street, I found a reading space overflowing with old Beijing sentiment. This place, known as the Elder Wansong Pagoda House, has a history of 800 years. When I arrived here, I found that this bookstore has a rich collection of books that attracts many visitors. In this courtyard at the entrance of the Brick Pagoda Hutong, I felt the unique atmosphere of old Beijing. It is a haven of peace of mind where I love to read, think and settle down. Bookstores like this give me a deeper sense of Beijing's cultural heritage.