Shichahai Scenic Area

The Shichahai Scenic Area refers to the three lakes of Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai, as well as their adjacent areas, extending from the north side of Di'anmen Outer Street in the east, to Xinjiekou North Street in the south, to Xinjiekou Huokou in the west, and to the Bell/Drum Tower in the north. It boasts large areas of beautiful lakes and is also a famous historical district in Beijing, with numerous former residences of celebrities, princely mansions, and other ancient sites scattered throughout. There are also various local delicacies close to people's lives, and the Houhai Bar Street is an old-established hotspot for Beijing's nightlife.

Take a boat ride in summer

Upon first arriving at the Shichahai Scenic Area, one's eyes are immediately drawn to the vast expanse of shimmering lake water. The lakeside is very cool in summer, with lotus flowers in full bloom, and you can enjoy the lake scenery by boat. There are many piers along the lake, including Haomeng Jiangnan Pier and Lotus Market Pier in Qianhai, and Wild Duck Island Pier and Liuyin Zhengdu Pier in Houhai, all offering boat rides.

Pedal boats and rowboats allow you to have fun to your heart's content; if you choose a sightseeing sculling boat, it will take you on a lake tour for about 1 hour, and the boatman will also explain the attractions of the Shichahai Scenic Area.

Ice skating on the lake in winter

In winter, when the lake freezes over, boat rides are no longer available, but you can come to enjoy the winter scenery. When the ice layer reaches a certain thickness, the Shichahai Ice Rink (Qianhai) will open on the lake, and ice skates, ice bikes, and other equipment will also be available for rent.

Visit ancient buildings

The ancient buildings surrounding the Shichahai Scenic Area allow the area to retain its old Beijing charm. Attractions include Huitong Temple, Deshengmen Arrow Tower, Prince Chun's Mansion, Guanghua Temple, Yinding Bridge, and the Bell and Drum Towers.

Among them, the most famous is Prince Gong's Mansion, the residence of Heshen, a corrupt official of the Qing Dynasty, located on Qianhai West Street. In addition to seeing Heshen's luxurious mansion, there are also over 10,000 "Fu" (blessing) characters hidden within the mansion, and the "Fu" character stele inscribed by Emperor Kangxi himself attracts tourists who are willing to queue for a long time just to see it.

If interested, you can also visit Yandai Xiejie (Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street) to explore the Great Qing Post Office, which marked the birth of modern Chinese postal services, and get some beautifully patterned postmarks as souvenirs. Of course, you need to purchase postcards from the post office before getting postmarks.

Taste old Beijing snacks

If you like to casually eat some snacks, you can buy a string of Bingtanghulu (candied hawthorn), lean against the white marble railing of the Shichahai Scenic Area, and eat while watching the boats on the lake. If you want to specifically seek out Beijing snacks, you can go to Huguosi Snack Street, west of the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, to taste the delicious flavors from the hutongs, such as Guan-style chicken wings, imperial cheese, and shoe-sole huoshao; additionally, there is a Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant in the Lotus Market.

Bar nightlife

As night falls, the lively times begin. Songs emanate from the many bars surrounding the Shichahai Scenic Area, and some of the bar singers in the Shichahai Scenic Area really sing well, with stories of "Beipiao" (migrants to Beijing) behind the bars. More famous bars include Hutong Xieyi and Jiadingfang. Go to a bar, watch the singers perform, and from their songs, you can almost hear the passion for music from the "Beipiao" people.

Nearby attractions

The Shichahai Scenic Area is bordered by Nanluoguxiang to the east, Beihai Park to the south, and is not far from Jingshan Park, the Palace Museum, and Tiananmen Square, which are a little further south. Generally, during the day, you can visit the Palace Museum or Tiananmen Square, and in the evening, go to a bar in the Shichahai Scenic Area; if you don't go to the Palace Museum or Tiananmen Square but like lake views, you can visit Beihai Park and the Shichahai Scenic Area together; if you only like shopping and eating snacks, you can finish exploring the Shichahai Scenic Area and then go to the adjacent Nanluoguxiang to continue browsing.