Wangfujing 王府井

About Wangfujing

Much of the main retail stretch is pedestrianized, making it a straightforward place to compare older commercial institutions with newer shopping complexes. Its street name recalls princely residences and a well, but today’s visit is chiefly about the living commercial district. Walk a section with a particular shop or building in mind, then continue toward St. Joseph’s Church for a contrasting architectural endpoint rather than treating every mall as a separate attraction.

The street was known as Dingzi Jie ('T-shaped street') under the Yuan dynasty and as Wangfu Street after the Ten Princely Mansions were built along its east side in 1417, during the Ming dynasty. Although the mansions were later replaced by Xianliang Temple (贤良寺) in 1734, the name Wangfu Street continued in use. In 1905 the Qing government renamed it Wangfujing Street, after a sweet-water well on its west side. From 1915 to 1948, the street was also known to foreigners as Morrison Street, after the Times correspondent George Morrison, who lived there; the name was later dropped.

During a 1965 renaming of Beijing's streets, the southern section kept the name Wangfujing Street while the northern section, absorbing Bamianzha, was called Wangfu Street; the Cultural Revolution merged both into 'People's Road', a name replaced by Wangfujing Street again in 1975. In 1966, Red Guards damaged shopfront signs along the street and closed St. Joseph's Church (王府井天主堂).

Little remains of the street's architecture apart from Cultural Revolution-era losses; St. Joseph's Church, in the middle of the street, holds regular Mass and Catholic events. Nearby cultural venues include the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆) at the street's northwest corner, the China Guardian Art Center (嘉德艺术中心) at its southwest corner, and the Capital Theatre (首都剧场), home to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

What to look for

• Pedestrian retail spine: compare department stores, bookshops, and modern mall frontages along the same street.
• St. Joseph’s Church setting: finish the retail walk with a different architectural landmark at the northern end.

Location & getting there

Getting to Wangfujing

Wangfujing station on Metro Lines 1 and 8 is at the intersection of Wangfujing Street and Chang’an Avenue, beside the southern approach.

• Use the name of your first mall or shop when meeting someone; the commercial street extends beyond a single station exit.