4 brilliant boating spots in Beijing that are open right now

Photo: Yuanmingyuan official WeChat account

Take in some of Beijing's best lakes while chilling on a boat of your choice

Spring has officially sprung in the city, with the temps reaching the giddy heights of 20°C throughout the week. The balmier weather calls for being outdoors, and what better way to enjoy being outside than whiling away a sunny day on the water, as a smattering of the city’s best lakes is now open for boating. Break out your sunglasses this weekend, and make the most out of the beginning of spring at these brilliant boating spots now open for business.

Beihai Park

Photo: Beihai Park offcial WeChat

Boats abound on the lake in Beihai Park. You’ll find small pedal boats, mid-sized boats in the style of a lily pad, large and imperial dragon boats for big groups, and duck boats as far as the eye can see. Visit during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds. Pedal boats are 100RMB per hour, four-person motorboats are 140RMB and six-person motorboats are 200RMB. Deposits start from 300RMB.

Hours Open 6.30am-8pm daily (boats only available from 9am-4.30pm).

Park entry 5RMB for adults; half-price for students and the elderly; free for kids under 1.2metres.

Find it 1 Wenjin Jie, Xicheng district (6403 1102).

Purple Bamboo Park

Photo: Purple Bamboo Park official WeChat account

Get ready to pedal hard as you explore the Purple Bamboo Park's 88,000 square metres of water. With more than 190 battery boats available for use, take your pick from sightseeing boats that can seat between four to eleven individuals, vintage-style boats and, of course, animal boats (we spotted rubber ducks, pandas, caterpillars and more). Battery-powered boats start from 140RMB and require a 300RMB deposit. 

Hours Open 6am-9pm daily (boats only available from 9am-4pm).

Park entry Free.
Find it 35 Zhongguancun Nan Dajie, Haidian district (8841 2830).

Yuyuantan Park

Photo: iStockphoto

Catch a boat from the pier at Yuyuantan Park’s south entrance and take a ride on Beijing’s longest canal tour: a 26 kilometre trip along the Yulong line from the park to Longtan Lake. But your floating options don’t have to end there. Rent a boat to steer around the park’s lakes or float inside a giant plastic bubble. Four-seater pedal boats require a 200RMB deposit and are 80RMB per hour while a six-seater pedal boat requires a 300RMB deposit and is 100RMB per hour. Prices and deposits for electric boats vary; four-seater electric boats require a deposit of at least 300RMB and are 100-150RMB per hour depending on your boat of choice. Six-seater boats start from 150-180RMB per hour and require a deposit of 400RMB. For more (Chinese) information, call 8865 3721. 

Hours Open 6am-8.30pm now daily.

Park entry Currently 10RMB until the cherry blossom festival is over. Half-price for students and kids, and free for kids under 1.2metres.

Find it 10 Xisanhuan Zhong Lu, Haidian district (8865 3806).

Yuanmingyuan (boating opens Mar 27)

Photo: Yuanmingyuan official WeChat account

There's no better place to ponder China's imperial past than by riding in a Chinese imperial boat at the Old Summer Palace. Yuanmingyuan's boating season has just begun, and guests are welcome to ride across Kunming lake while admiring Fragrant Hills in the distance. There are currently two boat routes available. One starts from the dock near the park's south gate that ends at the Fanghu Scenic dock by the west entrance of the Xiyanglou ruins (25RMB per person, one way). The other option is from the Haiyue Kaijin docks to the park's exhibition hall dock by the Black Swan district (15RMB per person, one way). Boat rental deposits range from 300-500RMB depending on the type of boat. Four-seater electric boats cost 100RMB per hour, six-seater electric boats 150RMB per hour and pedal boats will set you back 60-80RMB for each hour. 

Hours During March and April Yuanmingyuan's hours are 8am-5pm.

Park entry 25RMB for entrance to the park and attractions; 10RMB just for park access; free for children under 1.2metres.

Find it 28 Qinghua Xi Lu, Haidian district (6254 3673).

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