Rooftop venues offer new views of Beijing's Central Axis

Beijing's ancient Central Axis is attracting a new wave of rooftop venues that offer diners and tourists elevated views of the UNESCO World Heritage site nearly a year after its inscription.

The trend toward "sky-high consumption" — rooftop restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces — is transforming how visitors experience the capital's historic landmarks while injecting commercial energy into the city's rich heritage.

At Guan Tan Art Space on the fifth floor of Hongqiao Market, diners can eat temple-shaped mousse cakes while photographing the nearby Temple of Heaven's Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

"It's a full-sensory experience of the Temple of Heaven — truly special!" said a tourist watching live jazz as the Hall of Prayer lit up at dusk.

The venue features seven glass domes designed to mirror the Temple's Seven Star Stones, transforming the traditional market into what locals call a new viewing spot for Temple of Heaven sunsets.

Further north, GUI TEMPLE Restaurant occupies a terrace atop Hong'en Taoist Temple's west annex just 200 meters from the Bell Tower, offering diners eye-level views of both structures. The 200-square-meter space is part of efforts to revitalize the 700-year-old temple, where guests dine to the traditional "morning bell and evening drum" sounds.

The rooftop trend has spread along the Beijing's Central Axis. A century-old building in Xiaojiang Hutong near Qianmen Street now houses a rooftop teahouse where visitors can attend tea ceremonies while overlooking historic courtyard roofs. On Gulou West Street, cafes and restaurants provide views of the Bell and Drum Towers.

The rooftop venues reflect collaboration between businesses and local authorities to boost cultural tourism and broaden access to heritage sites.

Under Beijing's Central Axis protection plan running from 2022 to 2035, the 15 heritage sites within the 51.3-square-kilometer protected area form a continuous historical sequence. The terraces operate within designated buffer zones, preserving sight lines to monuments while making cultural heritage more accessible to visitors.