Gulou is the Brooklyn of Beijing.
Gulou named the Brooklyn of Beijing
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Gulou the Brooklyn of Beijing.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Beijing's verdict went to Gulou ahead of 798 / Caochangdi, which takes the runner-up position.
"Gulou is our pick for the Brooklyn of Beijing. It is the city at its most walkable, with the deepest independent music and bookshop scene in town and afternoons that run on small studios rather than spectacle. Beijingers are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Gulou's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Beijing verdict: brooklynof.com/beijing
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/beijing
Runner-up neighborhoods: 798 / Caochangdi
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.