Peking roast duck
Carved at the table, with pancakes, scallion and sweet bean sauce
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In short
The historic Qianmen branch of Quanjude on the old avenue south of Tiananmen. First-time visitors come for Peking roast duck with a side of history, eaten in or taken away.
Quanjude (Qianmen) is the historic Qianmen branch of the Quanjude Peking duck restaurant group, at 30 Qianmen Street in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It stands on the old commercial avenue running south from Tiananmen Square and Zhengyangmen Gate. It suits first-time visitors who want Peking duck with a side of history. Quanjude traces its story to 1864, when Yang Renquan opened a small duck shop in a Qianmen hutong.
Fruitwood roasting and carving at the table
Ducks are roasted in open ovens over fruit tree wood such as date, peach or pear, which gives the skin its crisp golden finish. A chef carves the bird at the table, and you wrap the slices in thin pancakes with sweet bean sauce and spring onion. Ask for the crisp breast skin first and try it dipped in sugar, an old Beijing habit.
Set menus for one or two people make the meal easy for solo travellers. Duck appetisers such as feet, gizzard and brined liver complete a traditional spread, and takeaway is available.
The museum and recent reviews
Go for the heritage as much as the food. The building includes a small museum of historical items, among them the original coal ovens. Reviews in 2026 are mixed on the cooking, with some diners finding the carving uneven and the duck soup weak; ordering another side in place of the soup is an easy fix. Prices are mid to upper range by Beijing standards, so check set menu prices at the door.
The hung-oven method
Quanjude says it has kept the palace-style hung-oven roasting method for more than 160 years, which is why the ducks here hang in the oven over the fire. The Qianmen kitchen still competes: in October 2025 its chef Li Zhifu won the Chinese pastry category at a Beijing skills competition. For questions in Chinese, the group's customer hotline is 400-700-1864, staffed on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00.
Sources: Quanjude official site. Facts checked November 2026.
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CloseMon - 11:00–13:30, 16:30–20:00
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- Sunday11:00–13:30, 16:30–20:00
- Lunch11:00 – 13:30
- Dinner16:30 – 20:00
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