Shichahai Scenic Area of History and Culture

Shichahai is a scenic area of history and culture in Beijing and
one of its historical and cultural protection zones. It lies in Xicheng
District, the center of the city, and is close to its central axis.
With a 336,000-square-meter water-covered area connected with
Zhongnanhai, it is the only open scenic area with a wide expanse of
water in the city.

It is an important witness of the history of
Beijing’s planning and construction, having the largest and best
preserved age-old block in the city. In the Yuan Dynasty it was the
capital’s center for commerce and grain transport. In the Ming and Qing
dynasties, it was home to manyhigh officials and men of letters. After
the Manchu takeover, the emperor-led Pure Yellow Banner troops were
stationed here. In 1992, the Standing Conference of the Beijing
Government named it a scenic area of history and culture (hereafter
referred to as Shichahai). In 2002, Shichahai and its environs, which
cover 1,467,000 square meters altogether, was designated as one of the
25 historical and cultural protection zones of the Old City.

Shichahai has beautiful and unique scenery. A famous
essay written in ancient times says that in spring it is like the West
Lake in Hangzhou; in summer, Qinghuai River in Nanjing; in autumn,
Dongting Lake in Hunan. Shichahai and its environs have the densest
collection of cultural tourism recourses, having altogether 40 historic
sites under protection, with 3 of them are under national protection.
The best known ones of them are 1) Prince Gong’s Mansion (refer to
‘Prince Gong’s Mansion’), which used to be the residence of He Shen,
the most avaricious minister in the Qing Dynasty; 2) Yinding Bridge,
known as the best place to view mountains from above water.

Shichahai has rich historical legacies in a number of
well preserved Hutongs, Quadrangle Dwellings, mansions and gardens; it
has dense cultural heritages in temples, halls, and distinguished
persons’ former residences. These are harmoniously blended with natural
scenery by distinctive folk customs. In recent years, bars, and homely
restaurants and hotels inQuadrangle Dwellings have sprouted in its
neighborhood, making this place more fashionable. The coexistence of
tradition and fashion attracts about 5 million tourists from home and
abroad each year. In 2005, it was listed by Chinese National Geography
among the five best city blocks in China for ‘being fashionable next
door to Zhongnanhai’.

Each year, the cultural tourism festival is held in
Shichahai. ‘Hutong Tour by rickshaw’ and its updated version
‘Shichahai–in-depth tour of old Beijing’ have become well-known tourism
brands of Beijing. Tourists may experience genuine Beijing culture by
joining tours of princes’ mansions, old streets, ancient temples,
former residences, city gate towers, Hutongs, homely feasts, boating,
bars, and accommodation in Quadrangle Dwellings. As a window to
‘humanistic Olympics’ of Beijing, Shichahai is playing an important
role in welcoming the 2008 Olympic Games.

Address:opposite the north gate of Beihai Park, Di’anmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing