Your Guide to Boating in 5 Beijing Parks is All You Need

These five municipal parks are the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, Yuyuantan Park, Zizhuyuan Park, and Taoranting Park. The pleasant spring sunshine makes it the perfect season for boating. Embark on a boating journey and seek out the traces of spring on the water. 1. Yuyuantan Park: Equipped with four docks, it offers not only the common sightseeing boats but also flamingo boats, clownfish boats, dolphin boats, and yellow duck boats. The flamingo boat is especially recommended for its pink hue that matches the blooming cherry blossoms beautifully. The ferry service operates from now until May 5th from 8:30-18:00, with ticket sales stopping at 17:00; from May 6th to October 31st from 9:00-17:00, with ticket sales stopping at 16:00. 2. Zizhuyuan Park: Hidden within the Western Third Ring Road, the 'Little Jiangnan' Zizhuyuan is a rare bamboo-themed park in Beijing. The park's Chengxian Lake, also known as the Big Lake, has three docks located to the east, south, and north, with a total of 132 boats including four-person, six-person, and eight-person electric boats, as well as four-person pedal boats. Besides boating, you can also take a sightseeing boat from the Ziyu Bay dock to the Summer Palace, check in at the ancient style photo shooting spot, or head to the northwest corner of the park to admire the winter plum blossoms at the imperial lodge. The ferry service operates from 9:00-17:00, with ticket sales stopping at 16:00. 3. Beihai Park: 'The sea surface reflects the beautiful White Pagoda, surrounded by green trees and red walls...' In addition, you can also visit the 400-year-old Xitian Fan, and on Tuesdays, you can go to the Guetang Tower to enjoy the view. The ferry service operates from 9:00-17:00, with small boats stopping ticket sales at 16:00 and large boats at 16:30. 4. The Summer Palace: Deservedly called the best boating park in Beijing. It offers pedal boats, painted boats, electric sightseeing boats, electric car boats, etc... Truly a blessing for couples, and you can also head to Xijiu Pavilion to buy fortune cookies. The ferry service operates from 8:30-17:30, with ticket sales stopping at 16:30. 5. Taoranting Park: This place is an excellent spot for lotus viewing in Beijing's summer. Even before summer arrives, boating has become a regular activity here. With rippling blue waves and swaying willows, you can fully appreciate the beauty of 'Taoran'. The docks are located at the East and West docks. The ferry service operates from 9:00-16:00, with boats being collected at 17:00.