Beijing Feels Like Magic: Four Wanghong Places To Hit Up This Winter

It's Official: City Government Names Beijing's Top Wanghong Spots

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Dec 9, 2021 4:53 pm | Add a comment | 445 reads

网红 Wanghong culture is everywhere in China, and Beijing is no exception. Roughly translating to "internet red," it's come to define places and people that are trending, viral, or just generally hot online. Think social media influencers posing in beautiful locations or eating exquisite foods while dressed in the latest fashions, and you get the picture.

Why it matters?

The wanghong phenomenon has put many places that were previously unknown on the map, and nothing – not even unassuming trees – are safe. One day you'll be wandering down an empty hutong only to drop by a few days later and find it crowded with aspiring influencers clamoring for selfies and photo ops, all because of something that gives the environment an alluring aura.

It's become so big, in fact, that even the municipal government has jumped on the wanghong bandwagon, although we suspect their motives might be largely economical. Case in point: To capitalize on the trend, Beijing's Culture and Tourism Bureau recently unveiled its first official list of the city's top wanghong spots for 2021, complete with a fancy ceremony hosted like some kind of hot spot Oscars.

Not only does the list span the nightlife, tech, and digital sectors, but it marks only the first step in what is meant to be a rather ambitious plan for the city, as over the next five years, Beijing intends to list a total of 300 places that it deems wanghong spots. Think of it as the Wanghong Five-Year Plan, if you will.

Want to know who the top contenders are? We’ve got you covered!

Liangmahe International Customs Waterfront

There’s probably no better destination to visit in December than the Liangma Riverfront. From the city’s dazzling lights surrounding Solana to the European-style buildings that boast a variety of restaurants, you're sure to get a dose of the city’s non-stop nightlife vibes in a single visit. There are a ton of things going on here, but if you're planning to swing by, be sure to walk or jog along Liangma bridge for a truly memorable night!

Tiantongyuan Culture Artistic Center

Further up north in the Tiantongyuan neighborhood, you’ll find a spacious arts and culture center designed for exhibitions and performances, but with a shared reading room on the second floor and movie galleries on the fourth. You can while away the hours on a Sunday afternoon here by thumbing through a few new books and lounging about, or perusing the shelves for things like legos and other knickknacks.

Temple of Heaven Fuyin Coffee Shop

For a heartwarming and oh-so-Beijing coffee experience, look no further than this Fuyin Coffee shop at the Temple of Heaven.

Besides the imperial architecture-inspired exterior, the shop is also known for its red-velvet flavored cappuccino, an alcoholic coffee featuring rich dark beer and beautiful patterns made with red velvet flavored syrup. You can watch the baristas as they expertly paint patterns onto your brew, or even try your hand at making your own latte art.

Markor Dongxueguan

The Markor Dongxueguan shop is a furniture store that made it big a while back for its eye-catching exterior.

Located in Chaoyangmen, this place is sometimes called the "Chinese Sydney Opera House" – a generous title given what's to be found inside – and boasts cutting-edge designs resulting in a space that's brimming with beautiful objects. Likewise, spiral stairs and curved shelves create patterns meant to transport an era of ancient tastes into our modern times.

Peking University Red Building

Besides being a site of Communist recruitment before the advent of the CPC, we're not sure what makes Beida's Red Building special beyond the historical and old architectural appeal. Be that as it may, it seems the Culture and Tourism Bureau tacked this one on top for some reason, maybe as a way of endearing themselves to the higher-ups.