Beijing's Summer Park Escape: Top Boating Spots Guide

Let's embrace joyful boating in parks for water-splashing fun in summer.

Summer Palace

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Culture and Tourism of Beijing]

The Summer Palace hosts a total of 300 boats spanning various sizes, including specifically 10 large tour vessels alongside smaller watercraft such as hand-rowed boats, electric boats, and pedal boats.

Operating Hours: From March 12 to mid-November, ticket sales commence at 08:30 and close at 16:30. The boating service concludes at 17:30.

Beihai Park

[Photo via the official Wechat account of the Beihai Park]

Rowing boats at Beihai Park remains an unforgettable memory for many old Beijingers. The park hosts more than 450 vessels of varying sizes, including distinctive boat types such as yellow duck-shaped boats, lotus-shaped boats and power-assisted rowing boats.

Operating Hours: 9:00-17:00

Taoranting Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Beijing Xicheng]

Taoranting Park offers a total of 267 recreational boats. The selection includes seven different types, such as four-person pedal boats, four-person electric boats, and five-person electric boats. Visitors can rent and board these boats at the park's west dock.

Operating Hours: May to August, 8:30-18:00, with ticket sales available from 8:30 to 17:00

Yuyuantan Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Beijing Haidian]

Yuyuantan Park features four boat docks housing a total of 571 vessels of various types, all operating under a 5G smart management system enabling one-click QR code ticketing, virtual queuing, self-service number calling, scan-and-pay settlement, and precise positioning.

Operating Hours: 8:30-17:00, May 6 to October 30 (ticket sales cease at 17:00)

Zizhuyuan Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Zizhuyuan Park]

Zizhuyuan Park maintains three docks (eastern, southern and northern) at Chengxian Lake and nearly 190 pedal boats and battery electric boats, including yellow duck-shaped vessels, Hummer-style models, and pavilion-style pleasure craft.

Operating Hours: 8:30-17:00 (ticket sales end at 16:00)

Shichahai

[Photo via the official WeChat account of "Shichahai Wenlv"]

Shichahai constitutes an open scenic area with expansive waterfront in Beijing, serving as the capital's exclusive waterfront venue offering night navigation services and functioning as the historical canal transport terminal at the northern terminus of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

Operating Hours: Canal sightseeing boats operate during daytime, and night navigation service at Yeya Island Dock runs from 18:00 to 24:00.

Longtan Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Beijing Dongcheng]

Located within the Second Ring Road, this scenic area offers convenient transportation access, spacious waters with picturesque views and minimal crowds, operating daily from 9:00.

Chaoyang Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Beijing Chaoyang]

Chaoyang Park stands as the largest urban park within Beijing's Fourth Ring Road, offering pedal boats, electric boats, rowing boats, as well as duck-shaped, bee-shaped, and other stylized pleasure craft.

Operating Hours: 9:00-15:50, Monday to Friday; and 9:00-16:20, Saturday, Sunday and holidays

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

[Photo via the official WeChat account of Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park]

Situated in Beijing's Haidian District on the western outskirts, this park is adjacent to the Summer Palace and predominantly features water-themed scenery. It offers four-seater and six-seater electric boats and pedal boats.

Operating Hours: Pleasure boats at Fuhai operate from 8:00 to 18:00 between May and August; those at the dock near the entrance of the Yuanmingyuan Management Office operate from 8:00 to 18:00, and those at the dock of Fanghu Shengjing operate from 8:00 to 18:30.

(Source: The People's Government of Beijing Municipality)