The Shichahai scenic area is situated in the central part of old Beijing. It used to be part of the old Grand Canal of the Yuan Dynasty 700 years ago and now it is surrounded by the old palaces of ministers, temples, well-kept Siheyuans (quadrangle) as well as old residences of celebrities in the willow trees.
This "Sunset Boat Tour" is in operation from April to October each year. The boat for this "Boat Tour" is 7 meters in length and 1.7 meters in width. It is made according to an old Chinese Painting from the Song Dynasty 900 years ago, called " the Panoramic View in the Capital". The people will take the boat from our departure place at the "Lotus Market", which is at the opposite side of the North Gate of the Beihai Park. The boats are paddled by the boatmen who wear in yellow vests and bamboo hats. With all the red lanterns on, with the sweet tune from the Chinese stringed and woodwind instruments played by the ladies on the bow of boats, the people can not only enjoy tea and local snacks on the boat, but also they can get a panoramic view of the local people's daily life, the local customs and flavor from the banks. The boats get across the Yingding Bridge (which looks like an ingot and hence is very famous in the local history) and come into a larger piece of water with much open view to the western hills. The most exciting moment here is, when night falls, the people will light up the candle in the little paper boats and put them into the water. The little boats flicker at each other, and now and then twinkle at the people on board and on the bank. While the music is in the air, it is like an old story-back to those days of the Tang or Song Dynasty, like a dream back to those moonlit nights in the water region south of the Yangtze......
Sunset Boat Tour
Transportation: Bus 823, 801, 701, 111,13, getting off at the back door of Beihai.
Open Time: 19:00-22:00
Price: 400 yuan (US$50) per boat (including music)
300 yuan (US$37) per boat (without music)
(China.org.cn)
|
