Now That it's Mostly Covid Free, What the Heck is There to Do in Jiuxianqiao?
After being designated as the capital's only high-risk area for Covid a little over two weeks ago, a few areas within Jiuxianqiao, particularly Jiuxianqiao Jiedao Second Neighborhood (酒仙桥街道二坊 jiuxianqiao jiedao erfang), have reopened for the most part.
While the area itself doesn't encompass the entirety of Jiuxianqiao, and even though one hospital, Huaxin Hospital, is still under closed managment, there's still quite a bit to do in this massive swath of land in northeast Chaoyang between the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads and Capital Airport Expressway.
What’s Jiuxianqiao all about, then? Read on to find out.
Take in the Arts at 798
Smack dab in the middle of the subdistrict – or, more or less on the northern edge – you’ll find 798, Beijing’s OG arts district. While the former factory district turned artists’ enclave has changed quite a bit over the years – becoming more commercialized and less focused on arts, for one – it’s a great place to explore.
There’s also a considerable amount of graffiti and street art to be found, and if you look hard enough, you might just find an old slogan or two from the Mao era.
Snap a few Candid Shots at Langyuan Station
Although technically just outside the northeastern side of Jiuxianqiao proper, the location of the Beijinger’s 2021 Burger Fest is a treasure trove of interesting finds. Wandering about the complex there’s a fair share of restaurants – one of which, Station Grill, is definitely worth a visit for their diner-style bacon cheeseburgers – cafés and shared work spaces.
Along with these, you’ll also find an epic playground with slides, a basketball court, and a number of semi-abandoned buildings to get lost in.
Stuff Yourself Silly at a Myriad of Eateries
Besides Station Grill, there are plenty of food options within the entire area – from 798 to Indigo to the sort-of-outside-Jiuxianqiao Wangjing SOHO, which also recently reopened – to be sampled.
Keeping within the realm of burgers, in 798 there’s a branch of Jing-A (which has a nice terrace, perfect for warmer weather), Laker’s and Café Flatwhite, and TAKE A BITE, all of which offer their own take on this beef patty sandwich. Outside 798 there’s a branch of Hulu by TRB – who also offer plant-based meat sliders – as well as a recently opened Shake Shack.
Besides burgers, you’ll also find Steam Pizza, Jazz Ya for Japanese, and XIAN and Feast by East – both of which can be found within Beijing EAST Hotel.
Relax in a Park (or Two, or Three)
After a bite it’s time for more exploring – or relaxing, for that matter – this time a bit closer to nature. There are around four big parks located within the Jiuxianqiao area. The largest of these is Jiangfu Park, which happens to surround Langyuan Station, making for a perfect transition from industrial exploring to nature hike.
Other parks include Side Park, tucked in to the east side of Jiuxianqiao where the Fourth Ring road connects to Capital Airport Expressway; Wangjing Park to the north; and Tuofanying Park, which is located more in the center (fun fact: Tuofanying means “camel camp”, a name given to the area when it was a stopover for camel caravans transporting goods to Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty).
And, Don’t Miss the Panda
A trip to Jiuxianqiao wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the “Wangjing Panda”. This statue, which isn’t too far from 798 and Line 14’s Wangjing South Subway Station, in the intersection of Jingmi Road and Wanhong Xijie, was given a cyberpunk upgrade late last year. While the panda in a mech suit does light up at night – it changes colors too! – there’s still no word on whether or not the symbol on its chest emits free wifi or not.
READ: State of the Arts: Six Exhibitions to Welcome Spring (and Summer)
Images: Serg Balak (via Unsplash), Vincent R. Vinci, Dianping, SanjoeMok_8K039
