Beijing has finally bid farewell to the sweltering heat. With blue skies and white clouds overhead, now is the perfect time to relax by the water. Think about strolling by a river or lake, and taking a boat ride through the city.

Boat Rides on Liangma River

The Liangma River is one of Beijing's most picturesque waterfront destinations. Cruising along the river, you can take in the scenery on both banks during the day, or enjoy a dazzling nighttime extravaganza of lights, music and visual effects. Popular spots along the route include Beike Theater, Guanlan Bridge, Yinma Bridge, Liuli Bridge, Lanmeng Bridge, Haoyun Bridge and Maijia Bridge.

Daytime and nighttime cruise trips are now available. Visitors can choose to board either at Solana Pier (蓝港码头) or at Yansha Pier (燕莎码头).

Yuanbo Lake Waterfront Park

Canoeing and sailing are now available to the public on the waters upstream of Jingshi Railway Bridge on Yuanbo Lake, a part of the Yongding River. The lake features expansive clear waters, while the park is lush, well-maintained and beautifully landscaped with harmoniously arranged plants. A stroll along the waterfront offers an immersive experience of the area's natural beauty.

You'anmen Section of Liangshui River

One of the best attractions along the You'anmen section of the Liangshui River is Jingfeng Yingxiang (景风映像), an age-friendly cultural space transformed from an unused public area in You'anmen Subdistrict.

Its first floor houses a community library, a child-friendly reading area and an experience space featuring cultural creativity. It is also home to Zhaohua Xishi (朝花夕拾) Bookstore, a specialty pour-over coffee shop, and a wood-fired pizza restaurant.

The second floor houses a professional performance hall, which regularly hosts public performances, cultural events and other activities. Outside, an extra-long waterfront promenade winds along the Liangshui River. Walk east for about 5 minutes and you'll come across the remains of the Water Gate of Zhongdu (the capital city of the Jin Dynasty).

Chaobai River Waterfront Leisure Trail System

The trail system runs 4.25 kilometers from the downstream of Xiangyang Sluice of the Chaobai River to the mouth of the Chengbei Jianhe River. It features separate pedestrian and cycling lanes, with road markings and distance markers all along the route. The trail is divided into three sections in blue, green and red.

Built by upgrading and paving an existing river patrol road, the system features colorful asphalt concrete paths and creates an open, shared waterfront space with convenient access to the waters for leisure and recreation.

(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)