Looking for a refreshing summer escape? Waterfront areas are good choices for taking a break from bustling life. Check out these six spots for a relaxing summer outing!
Lehuo Zhongdi, Fangshan District
Located about 5 kilometers downstream from Lugou Bridge, Lehuo Zhongdi features a 20-kilometer ecological cycling loop. As an important stopover for migratory birds in western Beijing, the area offers multiple waterside platforms equipped with bird-watching facilities for visitors to enjoy nature up close.
Opening Hours: 7:00–18:00
Purple Valley Eden, Fengtai District
This scenic area is home to expansive fields of flowers, where blooms in different colors create vibrant summer landscapes. Surrounding the flower fields are well-equipped camping areas with tents and leisure facilities. Following the flood season, the scenic area now offers customized team-building activities, making it ideal for family gatherings, outings with friends, and group trips.
Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00
Xiaoyue Lake, Fengtai District
All the water activities at this scenic area are now available, including kayaking, paddleboarding, dragon boat rides, and more. The scenic area also regularly hosts professional electric surfboard training courses for teenagers.
Opening Hours: 8:00–19:00
Yong Ding He Ji, Shijingshan District
This spacious open-air market brings together various creative spaces and brands, featuring aesthetic goods, nature-inspired trendy products, and outdoor leisure offerings. The area regularly hosts riverside lifestyle festivals and themed brand events, as well as pop-up markets featuring riverside products, music tents and more.
Opening hours:
June–October (Peak Season):
Weekdays: 10:30–19:30
Weekends and public holidays: 10:00–20:00
November–May (Off Season):
Weekdays: 10:30–18:30
Weekends and public holidays: 10:00–19:30
West Bank of the Grand Canal, Tongzhou District
The 1.3-kilometer waterfront street along the west bank of the Grand Canal has become a popular destination in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center. A total of 17 distinctive resting stops and mobile market stalls line the riverside, alongside trendy cafés, specialty restaurants, and other leisure options. Visitors can enjoy views of the water from riverside terraces. The area also has paths for strolling, viewing platforms, and convenience stores.
Songzhuang Flood Storage Area, Tongzhou District
As a key project in the "Tongzhouyan" flood control system of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, this area has both flood regulation and ecological conservation functions. With extensive reed beds, a lotus pond, and shallow wetlands, the area provides an ideal habitat for wildlife. More than 100 bird species have been recorded here, making it an excellent bird-watching destination in the city's suburbs.
Opening Hours:
March–October: 6:00–20:00
November–February: 9:00–17:00
Feeling excited? Start planning for your refreshing trip!
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
