Shichahai Scenic Area

Shichahai Scenic Area refers to the front sea,Shichahai Scenic AreaAlong with the three lakes of Xihai and the adjacent areas, this place boasts vast stretches of beautiful lake surfaces and is also a famous historical district in Beijing, where numerous former residences of celebrities, princely mansions, and other historical sites are scattered, along with various delicacies close to the lives of ordinary people,Shichahai Scenic Area pub streetIt is also a long-standing hotspot for nightlife in the capital.

Take a cruise in summer

In summer, the lake is covered with lotus flowers. Cruise docks like the lotus market, wild duck island, and dreamlike Jiangnan line the shore, offering pedal boats and electric boats for self-rowing fun. Traditional punt boats are operated by boatmen in period costumes, who share old Beijing stories along the way.

Ice skating on the lake in winter

In winter when the lake freezes over, cruises stop operating, but you can still come to enjoy the winter scenery. Once the ice is solid, the Qianhai ice rink opens, offering skating and ice biking, a long-standing winter tradition in Beijing.

Visit ancient architecture

The ancient architecture around Shichahai Scenic Area keeps the attraction full of old Beijing characteristics. There areHuitong Temple, Deshengmen Arrow Tower, Prince Chun's Mansion,Guanghua Temple, Yinding Bridge, Bell and Drum Towers, and other attractions.

Among the most famous is the residence of Heshen on Qianhai West Street—the Prince Gong Mansion. In addition to marveling at the lavish home of the corrupt Qing official Heshen, the mansion also houses over 10,000 hidden "fu" characters. The Kangxi Emperor's inscribed fu stele is particularly renowned, drawing travelers to queue for hours just to catch a glimpse.

If interested, you can also detour to Yandai Byway to visit the Great Qing Post Office, which marks the birth of modern postal service in China. You can stamp a few beautifully patterned postmarks as souvenirs at the post office, though you'll need to purchase their postcards first to get the stamps.

Try old Beijing snacks

If you like to casually snack, you can buy a candied hawthorn stick, lean against the white marble railing of Shichahai Scenic Area, and enjoy the cruise boats coming and going on the lake while eating. If you want to specifically seek out Beijing snacks, you can go toJiumen snacks, in the traditional courtyard houses, you can find everything from soy-braised beef, dalian huoshao (a type of pancake), instant-boiled mutton, to tofu pudding; or head to the west side of the Mei Lanfang Memorial HouseHuguo Temple snack street, tube-shaped wings, palace cheese, and shoe sole pancakes, taste the delicious flavors from the hutong; additionally, there's a shop in the Lotus MarketQuanjude roast duck restaurant.

Bars and nightlife

When night falls, the lively time arrives. Around the Shichahai Scenic Area, numerous bars echo with singing, and some bar singers in the Shichahai Scenic Area truly perform well, with stories of the "Beijing drifters" behind the bars. Rock singer Dou Wei performed at the Shichahai Scenic Area for three years, and it is said that the restaurant Qingyunlou (Shichahai branch) in the Shichahai Scenic Area is now owned by him. Other famous bars include Hutong Sketch and Jiadingfang. Sitting in a bar, watching singers perform, you can almost hear the passion for music from the "Beijing drifters" in their songs.

Nearby attractions

Shichahai Scenic Area is adjacent to Nanluoguxiang to the east and Beihai Park to the south, with Jingshan Park, the Palace Museum, and Tiananmen Square a bit further south also within easy reach. Typically, visitors explore the Palace Museum or Tiananmen Square during the day and unwind at the bars in Shichahai Scenic Area in the evening. For those who prefer lakeside views over the Palace Museum or Tiananmen Square, combining a visit to Beihai Park with Shichahai Scenic Area is ideal. If shopping and sampling snacks are more appealing, one can head to nearby Nanluoguxiang after exploring Shichahai Scenic Area.