From the historic St Joseph Church at the northern end of Wangfujing pedestrian street, we strolled down the street all the way to the southern end, where Xiyue Shopping Center is located.
Wangfujing Xiyue, also known as “Joy,” opened in December 2023. Spread across nine floors (seven above ground, two below) and covering 78,000 m², Xiyue caters to fashion-forward youth through a curated mix of retail, dining, anime culture, immersive art, music, and entertainment.
The upper retail and dining floors maintain an open, curved design that guides visitors upward. Each level is geared toward trend-conscious visitors and decorated with modern takes on auspicious patterns tied to the “Five Elements” philosophy, giving the mall a uniquely Beijing spirit.
The B1 and B2 levels pulse with energy. They house immersive “metaverse” experiences (like “Y3K”), light-and-shadow art installations, and themed spaces such as Yuan Shikou (元市口) and Qiankun Fang (乾坤坊). It’s a creative backdrop for socializing, photography, and overall sensory exploration.
Xiyue actively caters to ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) culture, offering specialty stores for trendy toys, figurines, and artist merchandise. This makes it a vibrant destination for creative enthusiasts and fandom communities
Over weekends (and today is Saturday), many Cosplayers (or Cosers) will gather here to socialize and have fun. There were many Cosers dancing in an enclosed area. The entire ambience was like in an AnimeFest. Jerlene knoews most of the songs played there and for some, she even knows the dance moves.
After browsing cosplay boutiques, artist merchandise stalls, and the buzzing ACG-themed stores, we were ready for something warm and satisfying. On the dining floor, we entered a Beef Noodle Store and had fresh beef kway tiao (soup) for our dinner.
The rain continued into the night. Before leaving Wangfujing, we paid a visit to Wangfujing Bookstore, which is just across the street from Xiyue.
Amid the bright lights and bustling crowds of Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, Wangfujing Bookstore stands as a quiet, intellectual refuge.
The store spans several floors, each dedicated to a different theme. The layout is airy and well-lit, with wide aisles and plenty of seating corners, making it easy to linger over a book or two before deciding what to take home.
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