Beijing
Houhai & Shichahai
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Lakeside hutong bars, willow trees, and Drum Tower sunsets — the most atmospheric part of central Beijing.
Beijing's lakeside neighbourhood of willow-fringed bars, hutong cafés and drum tower sunsets. Walk the alleys between the three Shichahai lakes and watch the city slow down. In winter the lakes freeze and locals skate; in summer the bar terraces fill and lanterns reflect on the water.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑The Drum Tower (1272) and Bell Tower sunset view — the most photographed skyline in Beijing and free to access from the street — is best captured from the terrace of any of the bar rooftops on the south shore of Houhai Lake
- ↑Prince Gong's Mansion (Gong Wang Fu) is the finest surviving example of a Qing-dynasty aristocratic estate in Beijing, and Houhai's bar and hutong quarter directly surrounds it
- ↑The area genuinely functions as a local neighbourhood alongside its tourist infrastructure — wet markets, neighbourhood breakfast dumplings, and local families cycling to school coexist with the evening bar strip
What you sacrifice
- ↓The bar strip around Houhai Lake is heavily tourist-facing: the rickshaw touts and karaoke bars along the south shore are persistent, and the live music venues target foreign visitors rather than locals
- ↓Accommodation prices in the area reflect the premium location — comparable rooms cost more here than in equivalent hutong hotels further from the lakes
Best for
Avoid if
Other Beijing neighbourhoods
Imperial Beijing — the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and hutong lanes in the city's oldest district.
Beijing's student heartland — cheap dumplings, late-night noodles, and a youthful energy far from the tourist trail.
The expat and embassy district — international dining, rooftop bars, and Beijing's most cosmopolitan nightlife.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
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