Houhai Lake

Address: Houhai (Shichahai area), central Beijing (Xicheng/Dongcheng), Beijing, China

Hours: Public area - accessible 24 hours; individual venues have their own opening times

Admission: Free to visit the public Houhai/Shichahai area; individual businesses/boat rides have separate charges

Houhai is the northern section of the Shichahai lake group in central Beijing, China, and a well-known urban leisure and historic quarter. The area is characterized by lakeside promenades, traditional courtyard alleys (hutongs) and clusters of bars, restaurants and small shops.

The lakes themselves are former imperial water features connected historically with nearby gardens and palaces; today the shoreline is a mix of preserved historic fabric and modern commercial use. Visitors use the area for boat rides, walking the lakeside, and exploring nearby cultural sites such as the Drum and Bell Towers.

Houhai sits within the central districts of Beijing northwest of the Forbidden City and is accessible from multiple metro stations and city transport links.

• Historic urban quarter: Part of the Shichahai lake complex in central Beijing, the area combines historic hutongs, temple and imperial garden connections with a dense cluster of restaurants and nightlife venues around the lake.

What to See#

• Lakefront and promenades: The lakeshore promenades and bar-lined north shore along Houhai form the central entertainment strip, with pier access, boats for hire and year-round pedestrian activity.
• Hutongs and surrounding heritage: Surrounding hutong streets contain traditional courtyard houses, small shops and restaurants that connect the lake area to nearby historic sites such as the Drum and Bell Towers and Beihai Park.

• Go in the early evening right after sundown when the lakeside is illuminated and the atmosphere shifts from daytime sightseeing to nightlife without the biggest crowds yet.
• Enter the Houhai area from the quieter side hutongs (off the main lakeside strip) to find smaller bars and traditional courtyards that are less touristy and generally better value than the central bar strip.
• Take a short boat on the lake (seasonal and ticketed) for a different perspective of the historic lakes and surrounding hutongs - the small boat stands are on the shore, so check operating hours before you go.