Going Underground: Xizhimen, Lines 2, 4 and 13

“Going Underground” is a regular magazine column in which we explore the neighborhoods surrounding subway stations.

SELLING POINT
Most people see this teeming transport hub as a place to leave as quickly as possible, but there’s much more to Xizhimen than turnstiles, jostling and mall fast food.

TIME-TRAVEL
Make your way to the Summer Palace in style, via the Royal Canal Boat. The wharf (huangdi chuan matou 皇帝船码头) is directly behind the Beijing Exhibition Center on Xizhimenwai Dajie. If the Qing dynasty pleasure ground is far too nouveau for you, you can travel much further back in time via the Beijing North Railway Station. That’s where you can hop on the S2 commuter rail line to the northwestern suburbs, including Changping District (Ming Tombs, the Wall at Juyongguan) and Yanqing County (the Wall at Badaling, Guyaju cave ruins).

SAVOR
Northwest of the station in Zhongkun Plaza, Blue Diamond International Buffet (蓝钻国际美食自助百汇) is a reasonably priced alternative to hotel brunches. Gorge yourself on steak, sushi, shellfish, foie gras and Bassetts ice cream for under RMB 200. Shiji Tan Family Restaurant (世纪谭府酒楼), just east of Xizhimen Nanxiaojie, offers the sumptuous cookery that was once reserved for high officials only. Skip the shark’s fin; try the painterly yipin doufu.

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Photo: beijing-visit.com