China Beijing Shichahai

Shichahai refers to the three lakes Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai and the surrounding area. It is a famous historical district in Beijing with a large area of beautiful lake surface. There are many former residences of celebrities, royal mansions and other historical sites scattered among it, as well as all kinds of delicious food close to the lives of ordinary people. Houhai Bar Street is an old-established attraction for nightlife in the capital.

Take a boat ride in the summer

When you first arrive at Shichahai, you will be captivated by the vast expanse of the lake’s dazzling waters.In summer, the lake is very cool, and the lotuses are in bloom. You can take a boat ride to enjoy the lake view.There are many docks along the lake, including the Jiangnan Dock at Qianhai, where you can enjoy a good night’s sleep, the Lotus Flower Market Dock, the Wild Duck Island Dock at Houhai, and the Liuying Zhengdu Dock.

Pedal boats and rowboats are great for having fun on your own. Depending on the boat type, the fare ranges from 40 to 60 yuan per hour. If you take a sightseeing rowboat, it will take you on a tour around the lake, which takes about an hour. The boatman will also give a brief introduction to the attractions of Shichahai. The reference price for sharing a boat with other people is 50 yuan.

Ice skating on the lake in winter

In winter, the lake freezes over and the boats stop running, but you can still come and enjoy the winter scenery.When the ice layer reaches a certain thickness, the Shichahai Ice Skating Rink will be opened on the lake. The reference price for admission is 20 yuan/person, and rentals of skates, ice bikes, etc. are also available, which are not expensive, but require a deposit of 100-200 yuan.

Visit ancient buildings

The ancient buildings around Shichahai still retain the characteristics of old Beijing.There are attractions such as the Huitong Ancestral Hall, Deshengmen Watchtower, Prince Chun’s Mansion, Guanghua Temple, Yinding Bridge, and the Bell and Drum Towers.

One of the most famous is the mansion of Heshen on Qianhai West Street иC Gongwangfu.In addition to seeing the mansion of the corrupt Qing official Heshen, the mansion also contains more than 10,000 characters for “fortune”. The Kangxi Emperor’s handwritten character tablet for “fortune” is so popular that tourists are willing to wait in long queues to see it.

If you are interested, you can also turn to Yandaixiejie to visit the Imperial Post Office, which marks the birth of modern postal services in China. You can also get a few beautifully decorated postmarks at the post office as a souvenir. Of course, you need to buy a postcard from the post office first.

Try some old Beijing snacks

If you like to snack on the go, buy a skewer of candied hawthorn and eat it while you look at the boats on the lake, leaning on the white marble railings of Shichahai.If you want to specifically explore Beijing snacks, you can go to Jiumen Snack, where you can find everything from beef in soy sauce, dumplings, lamb shank hotpot, and tofu pudding in an old-fashioned courtyard; or go to the Huguosi Snack Street west of the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, where you can taste delicious dishes from the hutongs, such as tube-shaped shark’s fin, palace cheese, and sole hotpot. There is also a Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant in the Lotus Market.

Bar nightlife

Whenever night falls, the lively time begins.Songs can be heard coming from the many bars around Shichahai. Some of the bar singers at Shichahai really can sing, and behind the bars are the stories of the “northern drifters”.Rock singer Dou Wei sang here for three years, and it is said that he now owns the restaurant Qingyunlou in Shichahai.Other well-known bars include Hutong Xieyi and Jiadingfang.Go to a bar and sit back, watch the singers perform, and you can almost hear the passion for music in the singing of the “northern drifters”.

Surrounding attractions

Shichahai is bordered by Nanluoguxiang to the east, Beihai Park to the south, and not far from Jingshan Park, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square a little further south.Generally, you can visit the Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square during the day and go to the bars on Shichahai in the evening. If you don’t want to go to the Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square and prefer a lake view, you can visit Beihai Park together with Shichahai. If you just like shopping and eating snacks, you can finish exploring Shichahai and go to Nanluoguxiang next door to continue exploring.