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Gallery of Shichahai Scenic Area
Shichahai Scenic Area Travel Guide
Ticket Fee :For free
Opening Hours :Whole Day
Traffic :Can be reached by bus No. 107, 111, 118, 13, 42, 701, 810, 823, and 850.
DCT Tips :The best time to visit Shichahai is Summer with blooming lotus and clear water.
Brief Introduction :
Shichahai Scenic Area is consists of Qianhai Lake, Houhai Lake, Xihai Lake and historic relics. In the summer, the lotus is in full bloom and the water surface wave light is clear. It is pleasant to walk along the shore or enjoy the fantastic scenery on the lake by wooden boat. While the lake icing up in the winter, children go skating on the frozen surface and laughing happily. Different from the Forbidden City, the Shichahai Scenic Area seems more like an ancient book which has recorded the most objective history of Beijing and is well preserved until nowadays.
The Shichahai Lake area was regarded as the axle of the capital city in the Yuan Dynasty (1271AD--1368AD), because Mongolian National Minority who regarded water seriously. And then, the emperor's relatives, high-ranking officials and residents constructed their home in this area. Shichahai, at one time, was one of Beijing's most famous summer resorts. It is recorded that in the summer the officials, scholars and common people flocked there to appreciate the tea, lotus, operas and other types of entertainment.
As you know, Beijing has been the political and cultural center of China for hundreds years. To a certain extent, the imperial culture was the mainstream of Beijing culture. However, residents lived under the rule of the emperor created the vigorous common culture. The best known representations are Hutong Culture where the Lao Beijing (Beijing local people) living in. Hutong and Siheyuan Courtyard in the Shichahai Scenic Area are typical and preserved quite well. The Big Jinsitao Hutong and the Lesser Jinsitao Hutong, the North Guanfang Hutong and the South Guanfang Hutong, the Yaer Hutong, Baimixiejie (Rice Diagonal Street), the Yandaixiejie (Pipe Diagonal Street) etc. are the best preserved ones. Strolling or taking a rickshaw is the best way to visit this area.
Another place you MUST visit is the Bars in Shichahai. Cane chairs, bamboo-curtains and lanterns have been widely adopted as ornaments for the bars. Just as the saying, “Comparing with Sanlitun Bar Street, the Shichahai Bar Street is definitely different culture. Sanlitun shares similarities with bars overseas, while Shichahai is definitely in Chinese style.”
The Shichahai Lake area was regarded as the axle of the capital city in the Yuan Dynasty (1271AD--1368AD), because Mongolian National Minority who regarded water seriously. And then, the emperor's relatives, high-ranking officials and residents constructed their home in this area. Shichahai, at one time, was one of Beijing's most famous summer resorts. It is recorded that in the summer the officials, scholars and common people flocked there to appreciate the tea, lotus, operas and other types of entertainment.
As you know, Beijing has been the political and cultural center of China for hundreds years. To a certain extent, the imperial culture was the mainstream of Beijing culture. However, residents lived under the rule of the emperor created the vigorous common culture. The best known representations are Hutong Culture where the Lao Beijing (Beijing local people) living in. Hutong and Siheyuan Courtyard in the Shichahai Scenic Area are typical and preserved quite well. The Big Jinsitao Hutong and the Lesser Jinsitao Hutong, the North Guanfang Hutong and the South Guanfang Hutong, the Yaer Hutong, Baimixiejie (Rice Diagonal Street), the Yandaixiejie (Pipe Diagonal Street) etc. are the best preserved ones. Strolling or taking a rickshaw is the best way to visit this area.
Another place you MUST visit is the Bars in Shichahai. Cane chairs, bamboo-curtains and lanterns have been widely adopted as ornaments for the bars. Just as the saying, “Comparing with Sanlitun Bar Street, the Shichahai Bar Street is definitely different culture. Sanlitun shares similarities with bars overseas, while Shichahai is definitely in Chinese style.”
