Exploring China's Cities by Foot

CHI takes a look at some of the best cities in China to explore by foot this spring/summer.

China’s big cities are undoubtedly diverse and exciting, being huge metropolitan forces to reckon with even when considered on a global scale. The sheer size of these cities, however, shouldn’t make them unnavigable to visitors. Make the most of a trip to a Chinese city this spring by exploring on foot, and discover how the savvy traveller can experience the best that Wuhan, Beijing, Xi’an and Chengdu can offer without once having to take the bus.

1. Wuhan’s East Lake

It can be easy to feel intimidated about getting to know a city as vast and sprawling as Wuhan. In this hectic transportation hub with a population of over 10 million, potential explorers may fear getting lost in this place that is actually a conglomeration of three ancient cities. It would be a mistake, however, not to take advantage of Wuhan’s rich cultural offerings when you’re there; Wuhan has a 3,500-year history - making it more ancient than Beijing, for example, or Nanjing - and as a result is steeped in fascinating architecture from the new and old worlds. Those seeking a little respite from the metropolitan area ought to look no further than Wuhan’s East Lake, which, with a total area of more than 80 km2, is the largest lake within a city in all of China.  The shores of the lake are an excellent place to spend an afternoon, whether walking, relaxing or cycling, and are packed with interesting things to visit, such as the Hubei Provincial Museum, the Art Museum, the Wuhan Donghu Ocean Aquarium and the Chu Castle. Moreover, the spring is undoubtedly the best time to visit East Lake, because it’s at this time of year that its shores flourish with a dizzyingly spectacular selection of Mei and Cherry blossoms. It’s well worth taking a stroll through East Lake’s many gardens, such as the Wuhan Botanical Garden and the Moshan Scenic Area, to get your fix of flora and fauna.

2. Beijing’s Forbidden City

China’s celebrated capital offers plenty of world-famous sights in a close vicinity, making Beijing an excellent place for a city walk. Beginning in Tiananmen Square, a site of huge historical significance and the location of some of the most important events in China’s history, you can make your way towards the Forbidden City. As the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City was a home to emperors and as well as being the ceremonial and political centre of China’s government. The Forbidden City is a tortuous maze of palaces, panels, pavilions and towers that exemplify the style of traditional palatial architecture in China, comprising nearly a thousand buildings and covering some 7.8 million square feet. Should you finish exploring the Forbidden City and your appetite for walking in Beijing still isn’t sated, Beihei Park lies in easy reach just a few minutes’ walk from the Forbidden City’s northern exit. An enormous imperial park which accommodates a wide lake, a temple and several beautiful pavilions, Beihei Park is the perfect way to unwind in a leafy idyll right within the city.

3. Xi’an’s City Wall

The centre of the ancient city of Xi’an is encircled, like several other major Chinese cities, by a high city wall, a striking landmark integral to the structure of the city that neatly divides the old city from the new. Xi’an’s is one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in all of China, and provides an experience like no other, being both a monument to and relic of ancient Chinese architecture - construction of the first city wall began, remarkably, in 194 BCE! The construction of the existing wall began during the time of the Ming Dynasty, in 1370, and has been repaired and renovated many times since, meaning that it’s still in excellent condition today. The wall has eighteen gates along it in total, though only eight of them can actually be used to ascend the wall. Whichever of these eight you start from, it’s possible to tour the entire wall, either by bike or by foot - though being nearly 14km long you may want choose a shorter section if walking. if you’re not sure where to start, the South Gate, Yongning, is particularly recommended. Ornately decorated, Yongning is the most famous and magnificent of all the gates, making it a popular point for obligatory touristy photos of Xi’an as well as being a good place from which to ascend the wall. Bikes, too, can be rented from the foot of the wall at Yongning with ease. The battlements, watch-towers and ramparts that you’ll encounter as you tour the wall really help in visualising how the city was in ancient times, when the wall was an integral feature in Xi’an’s system of defence. The views are spectacular, and this unique, elevated viewpoint is a great way to acquaint yourself with the lie of the land and the structure of the city during your first few days in Xi’an.

4. Chengdu’s People’s Park

As the capital city of Sichuan province, Chengdu is host to all the clamour and noise one can expect from a city of its stature. A thriving economic and communications hub in Western china, Chengdu exemplifies China’s big-city urban sprawl, with a population of over 14 million. Chengdu has a rich cultural history, having been home to some of China’s most prominent literary figures, including the poets Li Bai and Su Shi. For those wanting to explore the city on foot, though, the city’s People’s Park, located a little west of Tianfu Square, is a beautifully landscaped, lush green area of respite from the bustle of the city. The People’s Park is probably the most popular, and certainly the largest, of Chengdu’s parks, and plays host to an eclectic mix of walkers, joggers, musicians, dancers, hawkers, chess players and tai chi enthusiasts, being a highly popular place for locals and tourists alike to congregate during weekends. Entry to the park is free, and exploring it is fun and easy, and can be supplemented with a visit to one of the park’s many teahouses and snack shops. Those wanting to take a break from walking should hire a bamboo pedal-boat for a trip on the park’s lake, which is an especially popular activity during the summer months and a fantastic vantage point from which to admire the park’s impressive array of blossoming plants and flowers.