A Morning Run at the Temple of Heaven and Afternoon Tea at Hongqiao: A Beijing Weekend

Amy, a Canadian working in Beijing, has a favorite weekend routine: an early-morning run at the Temple of Heaven among ancient cypresses and birdsong, followed by lunch across the road at Hongqiao Market and a leisurely stroll through its floors. For her, Hongqiao is more than a place to buy pearls. The food options in Basement 1 take care of lunch, the pearl jewelry on the third floor is her go-to gift for family and friends, and the fifth-floor terrace at the Temple View Art Space is her favorite corner. Ordering a cup of tea and gazing toward the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is her idea of “Beijing-style contentment.” Amy often takes newly arrived foreign colleagues along this route. She says that to understand Beijing, you need to see both the grandeur of its World Heritage sites and the everyday life of its markets—and here, the two are just across the street from each other.