Park · BEIJING
Houhai Lakes
后海 · Hòuhǎi
About
Three connected lakes in central Beijing, ringed by hutong neighbourhoods, courtyard bars and the Drum and Bell Towers.
Houhai is the largest of three connected lakes (Qianhai, Houhai, Xihai) in north-central Beijing. The lakes were dug in the Yuan dynasty as a transhipment dock for the Grand Canal grain barges. The hutong neighbourhoods on the surrounding banks contain the Prince Gong Mansion, the Drum Tower and Bell Tower (which still keep traditional time on Ming-era drums), and a long-running bar street on the south shore. Boating in summer; ice-skating in winter.
How to get there
Metro Line 6 to Beihai North or Line 8 to Shichahai.
When to visit
Sunset and early evening. Winter ice-skating in January–February.
Gallery
Other attractions in Beijing
Itineraries featuring this site
- Beijing in 4 days
4d · Forbidden City, Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, museums.
- Family-friendly two weeks
14d · Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu pandas, Shanghai Disneyland — designed around kids.
- Two weeks comprehensive — Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai
14d · The expanded loop: adds the panda capital and the Li River karst landscape to the classic three.
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