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Top 9 Parks to Go Boating in Beijing

Written by Kelly PangUpdated Jan. 15, 2024
Houhai Park

In Beijing, it is not difficult to find a park to go boating. However, why not choose a park that's fun and has beautiful scenery? Now, we will introduce some best parks for you to go boating in.

Beihai Park

Beihai Park has an area of 7 square kilometers, including a water area of 3.9 square kilometers. It is built around the center of Beihai Lake.

In Beihai Park, you can not only visit ancient architecture and learn more about the royal garden, you can also have a walk, row a boat or appreciate the fish in the pond of the lotus garden.

Opening hours:

Peak season: 06:30-21:00 (April-October)

Low season: 06:30-20:00 (November-March)

Address: 1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District.

Transportation: take bus 107, 111, 118, 701, and get off at the north gate of Beihai Park.

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is the largest existing and best preserved royal garden in China. Kunming Lake, in the Summer Palace, is the most attractive water area in the suburb of Beijing. The lake has an area of 3,000 mu, taking up three quarters of the whole park. In summer and autumn, a large number of visitors come to the palace to take a holiday. Pleasure boats, dragon boats, rowing boats, pedal boats and battery boats are all available in the Summer Palace.

Opening hours:

Peak season: 06:30-18:00 (April 1st-October 31st)

Low season: 07:00-17:00 (November 1st-March 31st)

Address:  19 New Palace Gate Road, Haidian District, 海淀区新建宫门路19号

Transportation: take bus 303, 330, 563, 697 or 718 and get off at the North gate of the Summer Palace

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Houhai

Houhai

Houhai is a large man-made lake which used to be the exclusive pool for the royal family. It is part of Shichahai. The total area of the park is 146.7 hectares, among which the water area is 34 hectares. The park stretches from Di'anmen Street in the east to Xinjiekou Street in the west, from Ping'an Street in the south to North Second Ring Road in the North. It is a well-known summer resort in old Beijing, and also a good place to go boating.

Address: Houhai, Xicheng District

Transportation: take bus 5, 60 or 82 and get off at the Drum Tower. Alternatively, take Tunnel Line 6 and get off at the Drum Tower.

Yuyuantan Park

Yuyuantan Park

As one of the 11 large parks in Beijing, it is located in the suburbs, and half of the park area is water. The best times to visit Yuyuantan Park are in April, May, and June, because that's when the flowers are in bloom. During this time of the year, peach trees, cherry trees and tulips are in full blossom. In the cool weather of Beijing, people can enjoy beautiful flowers while rowing boats.

Opening hours: 06:00-20:30

Address: 10 Xisanhuan Zhonglu, Haidian District 海淀区西三环中路10号

Transportation: take bus 1, 99, 308, 337 or 728 and get off at the Military Museum. Alternatively, take bus 32, 65, 78 or 414 and get off at Yuyuantan. Or take Tunnel Line 1 and get off at the Military Museum.

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Purple Bamboo Park

Located outside Xizhimen, Purple Bamboo Park is a park based on a waterscape, and it is decorated with bamboo. This natural garden park has the rich features of southern gardens. The park covers 47.35 hectares, and one third of the area is water.

If you are going to visit this park, you can take a boat via the Empress Waterway to the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace. The scenery along the waterway is very nice. It is said that this waterway was dug with the military expenditure of the Beiyang Navy for the pleasure of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Address: 45 Baishi Bridge, Xizhimen Gate, Xicheng District

Transportation: take bus 320, 563, 608 or 717 and get off at the National Library.

Zhongshan Park

Zhongshan Park is located in the west of Tian'anmen, with an area of 21.8 hectares. It is a classic, elegant and solemn memorial garden. Zhongshan Park provides 40 paddle boats and battery boats to visitors for free.

In spring, it is a rather enjoyable experience to row a boat on the lake and appreciate the ancient architecture and blooming flowers on the shore.  

Address: 4 Zhonghua Road, Dongcheng District

Transportation: take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 37, 52, 726 or 802 and get off at Tian'anmen West Station or take the subway to Tian'anmen West Station, then walk for one minute in an easterly direction.

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Joyous Pavilion Park

Joyous Pavilion (陶然亭) is a renowned pavilion from the Qing Dynasty. It is also one of the four famous pavilions in China, so the park got its name because of this pavilion. The park covers an area of 59 hectares, including 17 hectares of water area.

There are over 200 boats available for visitors, including rowing boats, pedal boats and battery boats. The laser warship and pleasure boat on the east pier and the jalopy ship on the west pier are rather distinctive and eye-catching.

Address: 19 Taiping Street, Xuanwu District

Transportation: Take bus 40, 59 or 613 and get off at the North Gate of Joyous Pavilion Park, or take bus 53, 72, 84 or 122 and get off at the South Gate of Joyous Pavilion Park, or take Tunnel Line 4 and get off at Joyous Pavilion Park.

Lianhuachi Park

Lianhuachi Park

Lianhuachi Park(莲花池公园)was formerly named Great Lake or West Lake. It is a tourist attraction retaining its original scenery and waterside pavilions. Now, it has become a large country park themed with lotus flowers. The water surface accounts for half of the park, and it is divided into four lakes. On the lake, there is an island as well as bridges. Lotuses are planted in the lake. You can rent a boat at the east gate of the park. 

Address: 48 Lianhuachi Road, Beijing

Transportation: take bus 1, 300, 730, 830 or 937 and get off at the North Lane of Liuliqiao 六里桥北里. Or take Tunnel Line 9 and get off at Beijing West Railway Station.

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Tips for Boating in the Park

  • Make preparations for skin protection and heatstroke prevention (medicine, a hat and sunglasses).
  • Take enough drinking water.
  • Watch out when the wind blows and try not to go into the deep water any further. If you are not good at mastering a boat, the boat may turn upside down.
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