Shichahai

The Basics

Visit Shichahai on a walking tour, a bike tour, a rickshaw ride, or as part of a general Beijing city tour. At night, the area’s vibrant nightlife makes it a popular choice for bar crawls or evening tours. Walking tours typically visit the hutongs around Shichahai, often including bustling Nanluoguxiang and historic Yandaixie Street, as well as the nearby Drum Tower and Bell Tower and scenic Yinding Bridge. In season, Shichahai tours sometimes include a boat ride on one of the lakes.

Things to Know Before You Go

Shichahai is a great destination for people watching, while ice skating in season is a must with kids.
If a stranger or a rickshaw driver invites you to a teahouse, don’t go. The tea scam has set travelers back hundreds of dollars.
Crowds, high curbs, and narrow sidewalks make Shichahai a challenging destination for travelers who use wheelchairs.

How to Get There

Shichahai is located in central Beijing, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of Tiananmen Square and just to the north of Beihai Park. It has its own subway station, Shichahai, on line 8, but can also be reached from Gulou Street (Guloudajie) on lines 2 and 8. Some travelers walk here from Tiananmen Square via the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.

Know Before You Go: Visiting the Great Wall of China

Make the most of your visit to the Great Wall of China with these top tips.

Exploring the Hutongs of Beijing

Beijing’s hutongs offer a glimpse into Ming and Qing Dynasty Beijing. They’re also some of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, home to the trendiest shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants in the Chinese capital.

How to Spend 3 Days in Beijing

How to Spend 1 Day in Beijing

If you only have 24 hours to explore, we've got you covered with some suggestions for how to spend your time.

Food Lover's Guide to Beijing

Guide to Climbing the Great Wall of China

Hot Spring Spa Experiences in Beijing

Beijing Temple Guide

Fine Dining Experiences in Beijing

Acrobatic Shows in Beijing

When to Get There

The Shichahai area has something to offer in every season and any time of day: ice skating when the lakes freeze (typically in January and February), pedal boats in summer, and a vibrant bar scene that’s at its liveliest when the weather is warm. Avoid the area during Golden Week (the first week of October), when the crowds are crazy.

Ice Skating in Beijing

One of the great joys of Beijing’s freezing winter is the chance to get out onto the ice, and Shichahai is one of the city’s best skating locations. Besides conventional ice skates, you can ride ice bikes propelled by pedals, ice sleds pushed by spiky poles, ice bumper cars, and, often, ice slides.