The sauna-like weather felt over the past few weeks in Beijing has made water parks and swimming pools very popular in downtown neighborhoods.
However, the shortage of water entertainment facilities cannot meet the demand of millions of urban people hoping to cool off and chill out. According to local Chinese media, about 90 percent of outdoor public swimming pools were closed this summer thanks to the skyrocketing price of water.
So even though Beijing is wading through one of the hottest summers in recent years, only a few of the city's water parks are open. But fear not, lots of indoor swimming pools and some water parks are still open for visitors. But the prices are a bit more expensive than usual.
All the reservoirs in suburban Beijing are not open to the public for water sports because of their function providing drinking water for Beijing residents. In recent years, that ban has been expanded to also include lakes in the city centre.
Here are some recommended sites for people to escape the hot weather, catch some shade or get wet:
Beijing City Seaview Resort -- the largest artificial bathing beach in China -- is attracting swimmers away from indoor swimming pools.
Located on the northern outskirts of Beijing (about 15 kilometers north of the Sanyuan Overpass on the North Third Ring Road), the artificial bathing beach opened to the public in 2000.
The 20,000-square-meter seawater area has waves driven by 12 wave-making machines.
You will find complementary lounge chairs and thatched huts on the beach provide shade. Complementary beach towels are available at the pool desk.
A beach volleyball net is located on the sandy beach and the volleyball may be signed out for use at the pool desk.
Cost: 60 yuan (US$7.50) for each adult and 40 yuan (US$5) per child. The ticket includes most of the entertainment services on the bathing beach.
Telephone: 84319689 84310885 (Chinese only)
Parks with large lakes like the Summer Palace, Chaoyang Park, Longtanhu Park and Jiulonghu Park are also a little cooler than other places in downtown, although you won't be able to take a dip.
If you live near a college or university, the campuses are also worth a look. Usually, campuses boast vast areas of trees, lakes and grasslands. Temperatures on campuses like Tsinghua University and Peking University are generally five degrees lower than the outside urban area. July and August are the time that college students go home for summer vacation, so quiet campuses attract people for casual strolls in the evening.
Need a bit of a splash? The following sites offer swimming, so you can take the plunge and escape the sun.
Dongdan Swimming Hall
Address: A2, Dahua Road, Dongcheng District
Tel: 65231241
Price: 30 yuan (US$3.60) per person
East Lake Club Indoor Pool
Address: 35, Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Tel: 64678221
Price: Free (but members only)
Beijing Jingshan School Indoor Pool
Address: Dengshixikou, Dongcheng District.
Tel: 65223421
Price: 15 (US$2) to 20 yuan (US$2.50) per person for one hour and a half.
Youth Lake World
Address: Youth Lake Park
Tel: 64216224
Price: 15 yuan (US$2) per person for 3 hours.
Ditan Indoor Pool
Address: 116, Anwai Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 64264288
Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50)
Xidan Culture Plaza Indoor Pool
Address: Xidan Culture Plaza
Tel: 66063273
Price: 20 yuan (US$2.5)
Zizhu Building Indoor Pool
Address: Northeast of Xizhimen Bridge
Tel: 62254411
Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50) per person for one hour and a half
Yuetan Indoor Pool
Address: A1, Yuetan Nanjie
Tel: 68527282
Price: 15 yuan (US$2)
Beijing Gymnasium Indoor Pool
Address: 4, Tiyu Road, Chongwen District
Tel: 67112266
Price: 20 yuan (US$2.50) for one hour and a half
Temple of Heaven Indoor Pool
Address: 4, Tiantan Donglu
Tel: 67017562
Price : 15 yuan (US$2) per person
Xuanwu Gymnasium Indoor Pool
Address: 2, Baiguang Road, Xuanwu District
Tel: 63543311
Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20) for one hour and a half
Taoranting Swimming Hall
Address: Taoranting Park, Xuanwu District
Tel: 63536526
Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20)
Great Wall Hotel Indoor Pool
Address: North Road, East Third Ring
Tel: 65905566
Price: 150 yuan (US$18) per person
Red Scarf Park Swimming Hall
Address: No. 3 Amateur Physical Training School for Kids
Tel: 85830714
Price : 10 yuan (US$1.20)
Yingdong Swim Dive
Address: Olympic Gym, Chaoyang District
Tel: 64912233
Price: 40 yuan (US$5)
Longtan Lake Indoor Pool
Address: Longtan Lake Road, Chaoyang District
Tel: 67131103
Price: 15 yuan (US$2)
Workers' Stadium Indoor Pool
Address: the Workers' Stadium
Tel: 65016655-5150
Price: 15 yuan (US$2)
Haidian Indoor Pool
Address: Sports Center, Haidian District
Tel: 62642626
Price: 10 yuan (US$1.20) for one hour
Sai'ou Gymnasium
Address: 3, Diwangfen, West Road of the Third Ring
Tel: 63462318
(China Daily July 29, 2005)
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