Shichahai and Houhai hutongs

什刹海 · Shíchàhǎi

Three linked lakes ringed by old hutong alleys, courtyard homes and bars.

No booking needed2–3 hours

Tip

Walk or cycle the hutongs by day. The lakeside bars are liveliest after dark.

Opening hours: Open public area
Price: Free
How to book: No booking needed.
Getting there: Shichahai (Line 8)
Address in Chinese: 北京市西城区什刹海

Photo: FANG Chen · CC BY-SA 2.0

Open in a map app Apple Maps Amap (Gaode) Take a taxi here

From other travelers

In the encyclopedia

Encyclopedia · Places and buildingsHutong 胡同Old hutong alleys and courtyard homes around three linked lakes; best walked or cycled by day.Encyclopedia · Places and buildingsSiheyuan 四合院Everyday courtyard homes, some now cafés and guesthouses, along the hutongs around the lakes.

Travel guides

Beijing in 4 days: a practical itinerary with booking timesForbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace in four days, with a checklist of when each booking opens and how to avoid Mondays.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.

english.visitbeijing.com.cn

More in Beijing

故宫博物院Forbidden City (Palace Museum)The Ming and Qing imperial palace, now China’s largest museum of imperial art.慕田峪长城Mutianyu Great WallA restored, forested stretch of the Ming wall with a cable car and toboggan, quieter than Badaling.八达岭长城Badaling Great WallThe most visited and most restored section of the wall, and the easiest to reach by train.天坛公园Temple of HeavenThe Ming altar complex where emperors prayed for good harvests, in a large park.