Today you can travel around certain places by water in Beijing. So far two mainly waterways available for tourism in Beijing: Changhe River course and Kunyu River course. he water boats are in service from April to October every year. This offers another way of sightseeing in Beijing. In addition, there are also a famous tourist boats available in city lakes -- Shicha Lake course.

The Kunyu River waterway runs 10 kilometers from Yuyuan tan to Kunming Lake, The boats depart from Bayi Lake which is located in the Yuyuantan Park, passing dock of the Central Television Tower, Binyuyuan Port, White Dagoba of the Beihai Park, Linglong Park, and finally arrive at the Summer Palace - the largest imperial garden. The boat leaves Bayi Hu at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 16:30 and leaves Yiheyuan at 9:05, 10:05, 11:05, 14:05 and 16:05.

A one-way trip takes about 50 minutes, and a round trip is about 2 hours long. Visitors will be able to enjoy more scenic spots on boats. In particular, a gaily decorated pleasure boat in a European style provides various activities for tourists: birthday parties, tea parties, cocktail parties, wedding ceremonies, art performances, Karaoke, and small dance parties.

The Changhe River, an ancient river of over 700 years, was an important tourist waterway of Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and became an imperial waterway leading to the Summer Palace in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This Changhe course used to be the channel by which the Imperial Family went to westwards to summer. and now, The boat leaves from Beizhan houHu at 9:30, 13:00, and 15:30 and at 10:45 and 14:15 from Summer Palace daily.

The boat leaves from Beizhan houHu at 9:30, 13:00, 15:30 and at 10:45 and 14:15 from Summer Palace:
Line 1: Beizhan Houhu → Summer Palace
Line 2: Beijing Zoo → Summer Palace
Line 3: Beijing Zoo → Beijing Aquarium → Summer Palace
Line 4: Summer Palace → Beijing Aquarium → Beijing Zoo
Line 5: Summer Palace → Zizhuyaun Park

The Changhe river Course is 9 kilometers long, running between the Beizhan Houhu which is near the Beijing Exhibition Center to the Ruyimen Port of the Summer Palace. Via this waterway, you can reach the Beijing Exhibition Center, Beijing Zoo, Beijing Aquarium, Five-Pagoda Temple, China National Library, Zizhuyuan Park , Temple of Longevity, and some other ancient attractions.

In Shicha Lake, as well as the Hutong Tour, you can also travel by a southern style boat with a long scull, fully enjoy the old life style. The waterway of the Shicha Lake offers distinguishing views of temple, former residence of the celebrities, and the former Princes mansions. In addition, you can have a taste of some famous Beijing snacks in the special South China style boats.

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