Citywalk has become one of the most popular ways to travel. Unlike traditional sightseeing, Citywalk emphasizes exploring a city's fabric on foot — through its alleys, architecture, culture, and cuisine — to feel its authentic pulse.
This guide curates classic Citywalk routes across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Xi'an, covering themes from history and culture to art, street life, and food. Plan your next urban adventure here.
Beijing
Hutong · Heritage · Street LifeBeijing's Citywalk experience is inseparable from its hutongs (alleyways). From the red walls and ancient scholar trees beneath the imperial city to the time-honored shops and artful lanes of the southern districts, every route is a journey through time.
Central Axis & Old Beijing Hutong Walk
Guozijian Street is hailed as "Beijing's most beautiful street," with red walls, green trees, and ancient architecture. Wudaoying Hutong is lined with art shops and cafés, a hub for creatives. End the day with sunset at Shichahai.
Republic-Era Charm: Dashilar Old & New Fusion Walk
Yangmeizhu Xiejie's 500 meters are packed with independent design studios and art spaces, radiating Republic-era charm. Dashilar is one of Beijing's oldest commercial streets, home to heritage brands like Ruifuxiang and Tongrentang.
Southern Zen: Fahai Temple Serenity Walk
Lanman Hutong is quiet and picturesque at every turn. Fahai Temple, a millennium-old Buddhist temple, is famed for its lilac blossoms and ancient architecture, offering a sense of "serenity within the mundane world."
Spring Special: Ming City Wall Romance Walk
Most beautiful when plum blossoms bloom in spring, this route connects ancient city walls, Western-style architecture, and revitalized old hutongs — a classic Beijing spring ritual.
Shanghai
Plane Trees · Shikumen · Art DecoShanghai's Citywalk is a play of light and shadow beneath plane trees, the passage of time in old lane houses, and the fusion of fashion and street life on Anfu Road.
Classic Choice: Wukang Road Art Walk
Wukang Road is the essence of the Hengshan-Fuxing Historic Area, where plane-tree-shaded garden villas meet artful boutiques. Anfu Road blends fashion with street life, making it a top Citywalk destination.
Four-Street Stroll: Wukang to Yongfu Road
Linking four of Shanghai's most characterful streets, this route from the Wukang Building leads through old villas, indie bookstores, specialty cafés, and curated shops — the definitive Shanghai street stroll.
Cinema Theme: Wukang Film District Walk
Deep in the plane trees and old villas, discover Shanghai's century-long romance with cinema — ideal for film enthusiasts.
Guangzhou
Arcades · Cantonese Cuisine · Pearl RiverGuangzhou's Citywalk is the evening breeze along the Pearl River, the European charm of Shamian Island, and the millennium-old mercantile memory of Beijing Road.
Xiguan Heritage: Shamian Island Historic Walk
Once a British and French concession, Shamian Island retains over 150 European-style buildings blending with Lingnan gardens. Beijing Road is a microcosm of Guangzhou's thousand-year commercial history.
Gongyuanqian Wander: Anime & Ancient Streets
From the anime world to ancient roads, the area around Gongyuanqian Metro Station is one of Guangzhou's best districts for a leisurely Citywalk, with food and shopping in abundance.
Chengdu
Slow Living · Teahouses · Creative ParksChengdu's Citywalk is the ultimate expression of "walking for fun." From street life to art lanes to riverside views, every path embodies the city's laid-back philosophy.
Classic Culture: Wenshu Monastery to Jinli Walk
Wenshu Monastery is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in downtown Chengdu. Kuanzhai Xiangzi comprises Qing Dynasty lanes. People's Park is the quintessential spot to experience Chengdu's slow life with a bowl of covered-bowl tea.
Creative Revival: Fenghuangshan Foot Art Walk
Half white-walled old city life, half trendy creative parks. This is Chengdu's secret base for art lovers, where old communities and creative spaces coexist in wonderful harmony.
Shenzhen
Modern · Parks · CoastalShenzhen's Citywalk is an exploration of a modern metropolis between mountains and sea, from panoramic city views atop Lianhua Mountain to coastal boardwalks.
Culture Explorer: Lianhua Mountain & Civic Center Walk
Climb Lianhua Mountain for a panoramic view of Shenzhen's central axis. The Civic Center's modern architecture is magnificent — the best route to feel Shenzhen as a City of Design and innovation.
Mountain-Sea Connection: Longgang River Eco Walk
A 20-km mountain-to-sea journey from country parks to urban greenways, passing landmarks like U-Dream Plaza, Pearl Beach, and Yuelin Bay — Shenzhen's signature eco-Citywalk route.
Art Roaming: OCT Loft Creative Walk
Wander through galleries, artist studios, and historic sites, soaking in Shenzhen's contemporary art scene and the vibrant energy of its creative industries.
Hangzhou
West Lake · Grand Canal · JiangnanHangzhou's Citywalk is the willows and orioles by West Lake, the historic Qiaoxi Straight Street along the Grand Canal, and the urban life at the foot of Mantoushan.
West Lake Classic: Beishan Street Historic Walk
Stroll along West Lake's classic northern shore, from Bai Causeway in spring to Calm Lake in autumn, with historic sites and scenic beauty at every step — the definitive Jiangnan experience.
Canal Slow Living: Qiaoxi Straight Street Walk
The finest walkable stretch of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou. Gongchen Bridge is the city's tallest and longest stone arch bridge. Qiaoxi Straight Street preserves late Qing and early Republican architecture, with free museums.
Urban Life: Mantoushan Creative Walk
Where old Hangzhou life meets emerging creative parks, white walls and black tiles collide with trendsetting art to create a unique urban aesthetic.
Xi'an
City Wall · Ancient Temples · Tang DynastyXi'an's Citywalk is the millennium of echoes beneath the city wall, from Tang Dynasty relics to Republic-era landmarks, every step tracing the pulse of history.
City Wall Roots: Republic-Era History Walk
Start at the South Gate and walk along the city wall roots, traversing Republic-era history. The Stele Forest Museum holds masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy; the Zhang Xueliang Residence witnessed a pivotal historical turning point.
Tang Dynasty Grandeur: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Culture Walk
Packed with Xi'an's most significant ancient structures, from the serenity of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda to the dazzling Grand Tang Mall — a modern reimagining of "seeing all the flowers of Chang'an in one day."
Literary Heritage: Shuyuanmen (Academy Gate) Walk
A classic route to feel Xi'an's literary soul. Shuyuanmen is the city's famous cultural street for the Four Treasures of the Study. The Bell and Drum Towers are Xi'an's iconic landmarks.
Northwest Treasure: Historic Sites & Food Walk
A hidden gem route in northwest Xi'an, featuring Guangren Temple (Shaanxi's only Tibetan Buddhist temple) and Sajinqiao Food Street, a local favorite. Historic sites, great food, and beautiful scenery combined.
Quick Route Guide
| City | Route Name | Theme | Duration | Key Stops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Central Axis & Hutong Walk | Hutong Life | 3-4 hrs | Lama Temple → Wudaoying → Guozijian → Shichahai |
| Beijing | Republic-Era Dashilar Walk | Old & New Fusion | 2-3 hrs | Yangmeizhu → Dashilar → Qianmen |
| Shanghai | Wukang Road Art Walk | Plane Tree Villas | 3-4 hrs | Wukang Building → Ba Jin Residence → Anfu Road |
| Shanghai | Four-Street Stroll | Street Ramble | 3 hrs | Wukang → Anfu → Wulumuqi Middle Road |
| Guangzhou | Shamian Island Historic Walk | European Charm | 3-4 hrs | Shamian → Customs Museum → Cathedral → Beijing Road |
| Chengdu | Wenshu Monastery to Jinli Walk | Street Culture | 3-4 hrs | Wenshu → Kuanzhai Xiangzi → Jinli → People's Park |
| Shenzhen | Lianhua Mountain & Civic Center Walk | Modern Urban | 2-3 hrs | Lianhua Mountain → Civic Center → Shenzhen Museum |
| Shenzhen | Longgang River Eco Walk | Mountain-Sea | 4-5 hrs | Zhangbei Park → Longgang River Greenway → Wetland Park |
| Hangzhou | Beishan Street Historic Walk | West Lake Classic | 3 hrs | Broken Bridge → Bai Causeway → Calm Lake → Yue Fei Temple |
| Hangzhou | Qiaoxi Straight Street Walk | Canal Slow Living | 2-3 hrs | Gongchen Bridge → Qiaoxi Street → Xiaohe Street |
| Xi'an | City Wall Republic-Era Walk | History & Culture | 2 hrs | South Gate → Stele Forest → Zhang Xueliang Residence |
| Xi'an | Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Walk | Tang Dynasty Grandeur | 3-4 hrs | Small Pagoda → History Museum → Giant Pagoda → Grand Tang Mall |
| Xi'an | Shuyuanmen (Academy Gate) Walk | Literary Heritage | 2 hrs | Wenchang Gate → Shuyuanmen → Bell & Drum Towers |