Beijing Traditional Toy Making

Within the city near the Confucius Temple there are a small number of craftsmen who are continuing on the tradition of toy making. As you enter the temple street, opposite the Lama Temple, you will pass through a traditional Chinese gateway and into a quaint little tree lined street.

As you wander along the street you will find a traditional tea tasting shop, coffee shops and a small hall where locals rehearse with their traditional musical instruments. You will certainly hear them if they are rehearsing. Don't miss the small shops selling souvenirs from around China where you can find a range of treasures.

Products include beasts made from cloth, painted kites, and clay figures. There is a tiny shop near the Confucius Temple in Beijing’s Dongcheng district run by Lian Daxing.

Access - Getting There

Guozijian Jie
Dongcheng District

Further along the street is Shengtangxuan run by the Tang family who make paper and cloth kites, Manchurian clay toys and Beijing Opera masks. Tang Qiliang is a Manchurian in his 80’s and started making toys about 70 years ago. A number of his toys can be seen in the China Art Gallery and Capital Museum.

The toys made by Tang are influenced by classic tales like Journey to the West and the legend of The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Visitors to the shop can also buy wooden spinning tops, toy drums and paper windmills. Prices are extremely reasonable.
Beijing Traditional Toy Making

Access - Getting There

Open daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Guozijian Jie
Dongcheng District
Telephone: 8404 7179

Visit these shops to enjoy a special kind of craftsmanship.

Photographs by Russell Uebergang

Author Description

Beijing Visitor Guide