Central Business District (CBD)

The Central Business District of Beijing is situated to the east of the physical city center, but the CBD is considered the real heart of Beijing. This is the city`s largest area for finance, business and media of the capital city with hundreds of international companies headquarters based here including Ford, Samsung, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard. Its central location makes it a great place for residents in Beijing, providing easy access to lots of attractions in the area including dining, shopping, tourist attractions and nightlife. Top accommodations like five-star hotels, luxury high-end apartments, world-class malls and high rise office buildings fill the streets of the CBD, most of these buildings have pretty high price tags. Plenty of dining options are available here such as Thai, Italian, Middle Eastern and French cuisines also including western chains like McDonald`s, KFC and Pizza Hut.

Financial District

Beijing`s Financial Street was also known as BFS, Beijing Jinrong Street (BJS) and also referred to as China`s new `Wall Street` is located in the historic center of the city, situated on the 2nd Ring Road. The Finance street is where many banking headquarters and government offices are located including People`s Bank of China and China Securities Regulatory Commission. The district was built for the 2008 Olympic Games and features a mix of residential and commercial buildings along with outdoor park areas, gardens, and courtyards with lots of walking space.

Dongzhimen

The area of Dongzhimen which means `East Gate` is a precinct in the Dongcheng district, a transportation and commercial hub of Beijing situated between the 2nd and 3rd Ring Roads in the east. This was the original location of the East Gate for the wall that surrounded old Beijing, a popular destination for residents and close to downtown with plenty of restaurants and several transportation options available including the subway, trains, buses and airport express. This vibrant area offers a wide selection of amenities such as shopping, malls, cafes and plenty of food including the famous Guijie or `Food vessel street` featuring over 150 different eateries, most of which are open 24 hours. Also located close by is the area of Sanlitun one of Beijing`s most happening areas for nightlife.

Houhai

The Houhai neighborhood is found in the Xicheng District in central Beijing, Lake Houhai is in the area which is the largest of three lakes located in the city. This is a popular place to find hutongs and Houhai Bar Street featuring great nightlife filled with restaurants, bars, and cafes where tourists, locals and the younger community gather in the evenings. A famous destination for Chinese, Thai and western cuisine with restaurants dotted along the street as well as quaint cafes and tea houses and the popular Chinese pastime, Karaoke. The areas in this neighborhood offer a scenic oasis along the historic waterway with historic sites and old style architecture with popular places including Beihai Park, The Bell and Drum towers and a plethora of hutongs.

Qianmen

The Qianmen area is also known as Zhengyangmen, Qianmen translates to `Front Gate`, the main gate into the inner city is situated in the neighborhood just south of Tiananmen Square. This neighborhood is an important landmark of the Imperial city and features the famous pedestrian street, Qianmen Street which is situated in the central axis, filled with old buildings that now house restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars. The district is also home to the popular Quanjude roast duck restaurant and The Dangdang Che historical tram that runs along the streets. Old courtyards and historic hutongs fill the area, featuring over 80 famous shops including Ruifuxiang silk shop.

Wangfujing

The Wangfujing neighborhood is famous for its shopping streets, located in the Dongcheng District in the heart of Beijing, situated close to Tiananmen Square. This historical district is popular for locals and tourists with the main attractions being shopping and snack streets. Wangfujing Steet is closed off to traffic and only open to pedestrians and the historic trolley. Visitors can find a large selection of restaurants, street food, day and night markets and over 280 shops with famous brand names. History in this area dates back over 700 years where the name originates from royal mansions and the sweet water well that was discovered on its streets, `Wangfu` means royal and `Jing` means well.