Shichahai Night Tour Guide: Houhai Bars, Boat Rides, and Photo Spots at Yinding Bridge (2026)

Shichahai is the only body of water in Beijing where you can take a nighttime boat tour, and it’s also the city’s liveliest nightlife hub. As night falls, the lakeside bars light up with warm yellow lights, and the waters of Houhai reflect a sea of neon lights and the sounds of revelers.

You can start by taking a boat ride to watch the sunset, then head ashore to explore the jazz bars tucked away in the hutongs. It’s accessible via both Metro Lines 6 and 8, requires no admission fee, and offers something for every budget.

Practical Information (Must-Read Before You Go)

Item	Details
Name	Shichahai (Pinyin: `Shichahai`, literally meaning “the lake beside ten temples”), consisting of three interconnected bodies of water—Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai—with a total area of approximately 33.6 hectares
Location	Xicheng District, Beijing; bounded by Deshengmen Nei Dajie to the north, Dianmen Xi Dajie to the south, Nanluoguxiang to the east, and Xinjiekou to the west
Subway (Recommended)	Line 6, Beihai North Station (`Beihai North Station`), Exit B; walk north for 5 minutes to reach the western shore of Houhai; or Line 8, Shichahai Station (`Shichahai Station`), Exit A2; walk for 3 minutes to reach Qianhai (near the Lotus Flower Market) . During the summer, Shichahai Station often implements crowd control measures; it is recommended to arrive or depart before 9:00 AM or after 8:00 PM. For information on how to use transit cards, ride the subway, and make electronic payments in Beijing, please refer to my [2026 Comprehensive Guide to Beijing Subway and Transit Payments]
Bus	Take Buses 5, 60, 107, 124, etc., and get off at the “Gulou” or “Di’anmen” stop
Driving	Absolutely not recommended. The area around Shichahai is one of the hardest places in Beijing to find parking. If taking a taxi, ask the driver to go to “ Yinding Bridge” or “Houhai Bar Street”
Admission	Entry to the Shichahai area is free. Boat rides require separate tickets: pedal boats cost about 100–150 yuan/hour (approx. $14–$21), electric boats cost about 160–220 yuan/hour (approx. $23–$31), and rowboats cost about 60–80 yuan per person (approx. $8–$11)
Hours	The waterways are open year-round. Boat tours generally run from April to October, with evening cruise hours gradually extending. Ice skating is available in winter when the lake freezes over. Most bars and restaurants stay open until 1:00 –2:00 a.m.
Best Time to Visit	Best time for a night tour: Arrive one hour before sunset (around 6:30 p.m. in summer, around 4:30 p.m. in winter). Take a boat ride to watch the sunset first; the half-hour after sunset is the “blue hour,” when the sky turns deep blue, the water glows golden, and the lights just begin to come on—the best time for photos
Recommended Duration	2–4 hours (1-hour boat ride + 1-hour lakeside stroll + 1–2 hours at a bar or for dinner)
Dress Code	Nighttime temperatures by the lake are 2–3°C lower than in the city center; bring a light jacket. Wear flat shoes, as the cobblestone paths by the lake and near Yinding Bridge can be slippery
Budget Guide	Bar prices: About 40–60 yuan (approx. $6–8) for a beer, and about 60–100 yuan (approx. $8–14) for a cocktail. Dinner costs about 80–200 yuan (approx. $11–28) per person. The boat tour costs about 50–150 yuan (approx. $7–21) per person
Payment Methods	Cashless payments are used throughout the night tour. Bar purchases and boat ticket purchases must be made via Alipay or WeChat Pay; please ensure you’ve linked your international credit card (Visa/Mastercard) in advance. Most businesses at Lotus Flower Market and Houhai Bar Street also support payments via linked international credit cards. For information on how to use credit cards, ride public transportation, and make electronic payments in Beijing, please refer to my [2026 Beijing Subway and Public Transportation Payment Guide]
Photography	Absolutely. The panoramic view of Houhai from Yinding Bridge, the reflections of bars on the lake, and sunset shots from the boat—all make for great photos. The stretch from Yinding Bridge to the western shore of Houhai is the best spot in Shichahai for shooting nighttime portraits
Language Support	Most bars have English drink menus, and some waitstaff speak basic English

> Friendly Reminder: Shichahai is one of Beijing’s most vibrant nightlife districts. We recommend following this route: start at the archway of Lotus Market and head north without backtracking.

What Is Shichahai? A 700-Year-Old Canal Transport Wharf

Shichahai is the largest open body of water within Beijing’s Inner City, consisting of three interconnected lakes—Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai—with a total area of approximately 33.6 hectares (about 47 standard soccer fields). It is the only place where lakes, hutongs, historic architecture, and bars all coexist.

Seven hundred years ago, the Yuan Dynasty established the terminus of the Grand Canal here. Grain and goods from the south were transported directly via the Tonghui River to the Jishuitan Wharf. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, was delighted by the prosperous scene of Shichahai’s waters teeming with ships and bestowed upon it the name “Tonghui.”

After the Ming Dynasty, the grain transport wharf was moved eastward, and Shichahai transformed from a bustling freight hub into a private retreat for high-ranking officials and the aristocracy.

Today, as night falls, it once again becomes Beijing’s liveliest nightlife destination.

The classic route for a nighttime tour of Shichahai starts at the Lotus Flower Market, follows the western shore of Qianhai to Yinding Bridge (Silver Ingot Bridge), crosses the bridge into the bar district along the northern shore of Houhai Lake, and finally exits via Yandai Xiejie (Yandai Byway).

The entire route, which takes about 3–4 hours without backtracking, allows you to experience the full nightlife of Shichahai in one go. Let’s start at the beginning and go through each stop one by one.

First Stop: Lotus Flower Market (Recommended stay: 30–45 minutes, including dinner)

Where is the Lotus Flower Market? How do I get there?

Exit at Exit A2 of Shichahai Station on Metro Line 8 and walk south for about 3 minutes. You’ll see a traditional Chinese archway with the four characters “Lotus Flower Market” inscribed on it—this is the starting point of the Shichahai night tour.

The Lotus Flower Market is located on the western shore of Qianhai, directly facing the expansive waters of the lake. Built in the 1920s, it was a popular summer retreat for ordinary Beijingers of the past.

According to Qing Dynasty records: “Shichahai, situated west of Di’anmen, is renowned for its abundant lotus flowers, attracting crowds of men and women in June.” When it reopened in 1990, the plaque bearing the name “Lotus Flower Market” was inscribed by the renowned calligrapher Qi Gong.

After undergoing a comprehensive renovation and upgrade in 2024, it made its grand reappearance and celebrated its first anniversary in April 2025 under the theme “Central Axis by the Water·Life Blooms with Lotus Flowers.”

> Cross-cultural comparison: Lotus Flower Market can be likened to London’s Covent Garden (Covent Garden) — both are waterfront markets in the heart of the city, and both represent a fusion of historic architecture and modern commerce.

The only difference is that Londoners enjoy afternoon tea, while Beijingers savor lotus leaf tea and lotus seed soup.

What’s at Lotus Flower Market? (Updated 2026)

Lotus Flower Market stretches along the western shore of Qianhai and is divided into two main categories: dining and cultural experiences:

Food and Dining (a great spot to grab dinner):

• Tongheju: A time-honored Chinese restaurant serving Peking duck and Shandong cuisine
• Slowboat Brewery: Located in Building 2 of Lotus Flower Market, this open-air bar and restaurant sits right next to the lotus pond. Enjoy craft beer with burgers; sitting on the third-floor terrace in the summer is incredibly pleasant
• Bracket Café: The lychee-lotus flower specialty drink is the signature item
• Lao Jitang: Authentic Shanghai-style cuisine
• Zangsu Style Restaurant: Asian cuisine and vegetarian Chinese dishes
• Artisanal Ice Cream Shop: The Lotus Oolong “Empress’s Smile” ice cream is a limited-edition flavor

Cultural Experiences (Perfect for a Casual Stroll):

• Guangfu Museum’s “Summer Cultural Relics Exhibition”: First-Ever Collective Display of 100 Bronze and Gilded Bronze Statues
• “Huaxia Yiguan” Hanfu Experience Shop: Hanfu rentals, traditional makeup and styling, and photo sessions
• “Shichahai Cultural and Creative Store”: Shichahai-themed scarves, hairpins, fridge magnets, tea sets, and more
• “Guowen Xuan” Cultural Relics and Art Shop: Cultural and creative products themed around artifacts such as those from Sanxingdui
• Digital IP “AI Xiaohe”: In 2025, the Lotus Market launched a brand-new digital IP character modeled after the “Lotus Fairy.” You can access free cultural and tourism consultation services through the “Lotus Market” WeChat mini-program

What to Do at the Lotus Market?

• Dinner: We recommend enjoying craft beer on the terrace at Slowboat Brewery while watching the Qianhai sunset, or having dinner at Tongheju, where prices range from 60 to 120 yuan per person
• Browse cultural and creative shops: Pick up a Shichahai-themed fridge magnet or scarf
• Take photos of the archway: The Lotus Market archway is a Qianhai landmark; the lighting is best just before sunset
• View the lotus installations: During the lotus season in July and August, the neighborhood features large-scale lotus art installations—three giant lotus flowers at the entrance that open and close automatically, a life-sized artificial lotus in the center as large as an umbrella, and a butterfly floral art installation on the north side

Starting from the Lotus Flower Market

After exploring the Lotus Flower Market, face Qianhai Lake; the lakeside promenade is on your left. Walk north along this path for about 10 minutes to reach the next landmark—Yinding Bridge.

This stretch is very pleasant to walk along, with the lake on your left and old Beijing-style gray bricks and tiles on your right, and local joggers passing by from time to time.

Stop 2: Silver Ingot Bridge (Recommended stay: 10–15 minutes)

Walk north along the promenade on the western shore of Qianhai for about 10 minutes to reach Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge). This single-span stone arch bridge, originally built during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, has a history of more than 500 years. It connects Qianhai and Houhai and serves as the“heart” of Shichahai.

Standing on the bridge and looking west, you’ll see the famous “Silver Ingot View of the Mountains”—on clear days, the silhouette of the Western Hills is clearly visible in the distance. This is one of the “Eight Minor Scenic Views of Yanjing” as passed down through folklore. A Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty even referred to this spot as “the finest landscape within the city.”

Blogger’s Insider Tip: My favorite time to stand on Yinding Bridge is around 7:20 p.m. on summer evenings. As the silhouette of the Western Hills gradually sinks into the blue-tinged night sky, the warm yellow lights of the bars along Houhai’s shore begin to glow one by one, and the ripples on the lake’s surface—created by oars—perfectly reflect the neon lights—that’s the most enchanting moment of the day at Shichahai.

The best photo spot near Yinding Bridge: Stand in the center of the bridge and shoot westward to capture Houhai’s waters, the bar lights, and the silhouettes of the willow trees all within the frame.

The“blue hour” after sunset (20 minutes after sunset) is the best time to photograph the reflections of the bars. You can also stand on the bridge and shoot toward the east; the wide expanse of Qianhai Lake allows you to capture the silhouettes of ancient buildings in the distance and the White Pagoda of Beihai Park.

A little trivia: Some of the stone slabs you walk on today may have been laid during the Ming Dynasty. There’s also an old saying here: “From Yinding Bridge, the landscape flows backward”—meaning that when you stand on the bridge and look west, the reflections on the water’s surface appear clearer than the actual scenery.

Stop 3: Houhai Beiyan—Bars, Lights, and Reflections (Recommended stay: 1–2 hours)

Turn north after crossing Yinding Bridge, and you’ll reach the Houhai Beiyan Lake—the area with the most concentrated nightlife in Shichahai, as well as Beijing’s most intact hub of bar culture.

The lake’s north shore is lined with bars, featuring warm yellow lights, floor-to-ceiling windows, and outdoor tables and chairs. Songs drift out of different windows, blending into the unique background sounds of Shichahai.

Recommended Stops Along the Lake

No. 2 North Shore of Houhai — Wanghai Tower: A three-story traditional-style building; from the top floor, you can see the entire Houhai Lake, making it the best spot for night panoramic photos. Around 7:30 p.m., watch the sunset near Wanghai Tower—it’s less crowded and offers great photo angles.

Long-standing Bars: Examples include “Houhai No. 5” (an elegant siheyuan-style bar covering 400 square meters with a ceiling height of nearly 5 meters, exuding an antique charm), “Bagua” (serving retro-style Chinese cocktails), and “Tingheyu” (with lakeside outdoor seating). These venues have been in operation for over a decade, featuring a music lineup dominated by folk and jazz.

Houhai Ice Rink (open for limited hours in winter): From late December to early February each year, the rink opens once the lake has frozen thick enough. At night, the rink is illuminated, and people glide around in the moonlight—it’s truly magical. Admission is approximately 20–40 yuan per person.

Things to Do Along the North Shore of Houhai

• Find a bar you like, sit down, order a drink, and listen to folk music (a glass of beer costs about 40–60 yuan)
• Take a stroll along the lake and admire the reflections of the bar lights on the water
• Head up to Wanghai Tower to enjoy the night view and look out over the entire Houhai area
• If you visit in winter, try ice skating on Houhai

⚠Tips on Spending on Bar Street (Must-Read)

Although Houhai Bar Street has a great atmosphere, there have been very few instances of soliciting customers in the past, and service quality can vary. Here are some helpful reminders from the blogger:

• Try to choose well-established bars that clearly display prices, have floor-to-ceiling windows, and feature a distinct live music style (such as Youhang Craft Beer and Houhai No. 5). These establishments have been in business for many years and have a solid reputation
• Ignore overly enthusiastic solicitors on the street—legitimate bars don’t need to solicit customers on the sidewalk
• Check the drink menu and confirm prices before sitting down; transparency ensures peace of mind
• When ordering, confirm whether there’s a “minimum spend” or “service charge” to avoid misunderstandings at checkout

Stop 4: Yandai Xiejie—Immerse Yourself in the Local Flavor of This “Sloping Street” (Recommended stay: 20–30 minutes)

Turn back from the northern edge of Houhai, return to Yinding Bridge, and turn east onto Yandai Xiejie (Yandai Byway). This sloping street dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, having been built alongside the construction of the Yuan capital, Dadu, and boasts a history of over 600 years.

It is one of Beijing’s oldest sloping streets; during the Ming Dynasty, it was known as“Dayu Ting Xiejie,” and during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, it was called “Gulou Xiejie.”It wasn’t until the late Qing Dynasty that it was renamed Yandai Xiejie.

Why is it called Yandai Xiejie?

In the late Qing Dynasty, many shops selling tobacco paraphernalia opened here. Among them, “Tonghesheng” and “Shuangshengtai” were particularly well-known for having cleaned water pipes for Empress Dowager Cixi. The street’s shape also resembles a tobacco pipe stem, slanting between Drum Tower and Di’anmen.

Today, it has become a popular alley for tourists to explore, lined with small shops selling traditional Beijing snacks, cultural and creative goods, and handicrafts. When illuminated by the evening lights, it takes on a particularly charming atmosphere.

Things to do on Yandai Xiejie:

• Daqing Post Office: Get a free commemorative postmark and send a postcard home
• Buy a “Tu’erye” figurine: You can haggle the price down to under 30 yuan
• Capture the depth of the night scene: The alley itself is quite narrow, and the resulting sense of depth, combined with the red lanterns hanging from the old shop signs, creates a truly charming atmosphere

Exit Yandai Xiejie, and you’ll find yourself on Dianmenwai Street. Walk east for 10 minutes, and you’ll reach Nanluoguxiang. You can choose to continue exploring or end your night tour here.

Stop 5 (Optional): The Hidden Gem of Xihai—A Spot 99% of Tourists Miss

If you have some extra time or want to avoid the crowds, we highly recommend continuing west from Houhai—Xihai is the quietest section of the three bodies of water that make up Shichahai, and it’s a spot that 99% of tourists miss.

How to Get to Xihai?

Walk west along the northern shore of Houhai, cross Deshengmen Inner Street, and you’ll reach Xihai in about a 15-minute walk. Alternatively, take Metro Line 2 or Line 19 to Jishuitan Station; it’s right outside the station.

What’s at Xihai?

Xihai Wetland Park is the only wetland park in downtown Beijing, and it’s free and open all day. With almost no tourists, it feels like stepping into an old Beijing-style hidden paradise.

Recommended Nighttime Activities at Xihai:

• Watch the sunset from Wild Duck Island: Use your navigation app to search for“Wanghai Tower”—it’s less crowded and offers great photo spots.
• Explore Xihai Wetland at night: Use your navigation app to search for“Xihai 48 Cultural and Creative Park,” featuring a firefly-lit path and a waterfront boardwalk.
• Xihai 48 Cultural and Creative Park: A cultural and creative park converted from a 1980s soy sauce factory; at “Xihai Coffee,” a café with a red-brick roof, you can sit on the terrace and watch wild ducks paddling in the water

Recommended Itinerary (Chronological Order, 3–4 Hours)

> 6:00 PM: Exit at Exit A2 of Shichahai Station on Metro Line 8 and walk 3 minutes to Lotus Market. Browse the cultural and creative shops, take photos of the archways, and have dinner at Slowboat Brewery or Tongheju. If you want to eat authentic food at restaurants frequented by locals, check out my[Shichahai Food Guide: Hidden Hutong Eateries Where Locals Actually Dine After Work (2026 Updated)]

> 7:00 PM Walk north along the Qianhai West Bank Promenade for about 10 minutes to reach Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge). Watch the sunset from the bridge, take photos of the “Silver Ingot Viewing the Mountains” scene, and capture the lake’s reflections during the golden hour.

> 7:30 PM Cross the bridge to enter the Houhai Bar Street area. Stroll past Wanghai Tower, find a bar you like, sit down, and enjoy a drink while listening to folk music.

> 9:00 PM Return to Silver Ingot Bridge and turn east onto Yandai Xiejie. Browse the small shops, get a postmark, and buy a “Tu’erye” figurine. Leave via Di’anmen Wai Dajie.

If you have time: Walk west from Houhai for 15 minutes to Xihai Wetland Park to see wild ducks and the firefly-themed light trail, or sit for a while on the terrace at “Xihai Coffee.”

Alternatives for Rainy or Snowy Days

The beauty of Shichahai isn’t limited to sunny days. Rainy days actually reveal a misty, rain-drenched Shichahai reminiscent of the Jiangnan region. We recommend visiting Guanghua Temple to listen to the rain and copy sutras (free; please dress appropriately), or heading to the Song Qingling Former Residence (a nearby attraction near the Prince Gong Mansion) to watch the pigeons in the rain (admission: 20 yuan; fewer crowds).

In winter, once the lake freezes over, you can experience Beijing’s most traditional winter pastime—ice skating on Houhai. At night, the rink is illuminated, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

Photography Guide (Sorted by Route)

Shooting Spot	Location	Best Time to Shoot	Tips
Lotus Flower Market Archway	Entrance to Lotus Flower Market	Around sunset	The “Lotus Flower Market” plaque inscribed by Qi Gong + the surface of Qianhai Lake
Lotus Market Lotus Installation	Inside the Lotus Market district	Daytime or after lights-up at night	The three large lotus flowers open and close automatically—a great photo opportunity
View of Yinding Bridge toward the West	Center of Yinding Bridge	Around sunset	Stand in the center of the bridge and shoot westward to capture the waters of Houhai Lake, the lights of the bars, and the silhouettes of the willow trees all within the frame
Jinding Bridge	Eastern shore of Qianhai (near Yandai Xiejie)	Blue Hour (20 minutes after sunset)	Few people and beautiful scenery—use flash to capture atmospheric shots
Houhai Beiyan Shore	Across from the Houhai Beiyan Shore Bar Street	7:30–9:00 PM	Capture the reflections of the bars on the lake’s surface—images are more striking when the water has ripples rather than being completely still
Yandai Xiejie	Midway along the street	After 8:00 PM	Capture the red lanterns and the sense of depth in the hutong
Wanghai Tower	No. 2, North Shore of Houhai	Around 7:30 PM	Enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Houhai area
Xihai Wetland Boardwalk	Near Xihai 48 Cultural and Creative Park	After the lights come on in the evening	The firefly-lit path and waterside boardwalk create a truly magical atmosphere

Exploring the Surrounding Area: A One-Day Itinerary

If you have more than half a day, you can combine a visit to Shichahai with several nearby attractions:

Start the morning at the Prince Gong Mansion (the largest princely mansion of the Qing Dynasty and the former residence of He Shen; admission is 40 yuan; allows about 2 hours) → Have lunch at Lotus Market (Youhang Craft Beer or Tongheju) → In the afternoon, take a stroll along the western shore of Qianhai to Yinding Bridge → In the evening, board a boat at the Lotus Market pier to watch the sunset → After dark, head to the northern shore of Houhai to explore the bars → Finally, exit via Yandai Xiejie to wrap up your night tour. For a detailed hutong walking tour guide, check out my [2026 Beijing Off-the-Beaten-Path Hutong Citywalk Guide].

FAQ

As night falls, the bars along the northern shore of Houhai light up one after another, their warm yellow glow shimmering across the lake’s surface. Yindin Bridge is packed with people—some holding cameras, waiting for the sunset, while others lean against the railing, taking in the view.

The lake reflects the bar signs and the shadows of the willow trees; the water ripples gently, resembling an Impressionist painting.

Starting from the archway at the Lotus Flower Market, you walk through the willow-lined path along the western shore of Qianhai, watch the sunset from Yindin Bridge, step into the lights of Houhai’s bar street, and finally emerge from beneath the red lanterns on Yandai Xiejie. Step by step, you journey from dusk to late night, from bustle to tranquility.

This isn’t Venice. This is Shichahai in Beijing.

A 700-year-old canal transport wharf has transformed into tonight’s bar street, Lotus Flower Market, and Xihai Wetland. From the Yuan Dynasty, when the water was filled with ships, to the folk performances and acrobatics at the Lotus Flower Market during the Republic of China era, to today’s folk songs and craft beer on the night cruise boats—history still lies beneath the water, illuminated by the lights.

When you visit Beijing, set aside one evening for Shichahai. The archway at the Lotus Flower Market, the sunset over Yindin Bridge, the folk songs in the Houhai bars, and the fireflies over Xihai—with a new scene at every step, this is the most complete picture of Beijing’s nightlife.