Lotus Pond Park

莲池公园

Introduction

  • Attraction Location: Xicheng District, Beijing, China (北京市西城区)

  • History: Lianchi Park is a historic urban park that has existed in various forms since the Qing Dynasty. Originally built as a garden featuring lotus ponds and pavilions, it has evolved into a public park that preserves both natural beauty and traditional Chinese landscaping. It has been a place for leisure, festivals, and cultural gatherings for centuries.
  • Architecture: The park contains classical Chinese garden architecture, including lotus ponds, curved bridges, winding pathways, pavilions, and stone carvings. Several halls and pagodas reflect Qing Dynasty design principles with intricate woodwork and roof eaves. The lotus ponds are the highlight, especially in summer when the flowers are in full bloom.
  • Cultural Value: Lianchi Park serves as both a natural and cultural landmark in Beijing. It hosts seasonal festivals, especially the lotus festival in summer. It is a place where local residents practice tai chi, sing, and engage in cultural activities. The park also preserves historical features such as old trees, inscriptions, and classical pavilions.
  • Other Information: The park is a popular location for photography, painting, and casual walking. It combines natural scenery with cultural heritage and is especially popular among families and elderly locals for leisure activities.

Visiting Information

  • Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  • Contact Number: +86 10 6312 3456
  • Ticket Price:
    Adult: ¥5
    Student (with valid ID): ¥2.5
    Senior (over 60): ¥2.5
    Children under 1.2 m: Free
  • Best Photo Spots: Lotus Ponds (荷花池), Central Pavilion (中心亭), Winding Bridges (曲桥), Stone Carvings (石雕), Sunrise and Sunset over the pond.
  • Time Reference: 1–2 hours for a casual visit; 2–3 hours for photography or participation in leisure activities like tai chi or walking along all paths.

Where to Sleep (Nearby Hotels & Stays)

  • Luxury:
    Grand Hyatt Beijing (北京君悦酒店)
    The Westin Beijing (北京威斯汀酒店)
  • Mid-range:
    Hanting Hotel Xicheng (汉庭酒店西城店)
    Ji Hotel Beijing Xidan (积家酒店西单店)
  • Budget & Boutique:
    Xicheng Courtyard Inn (西城胡同客栈)
    Beijing Lianchi Hostel (北京莲池青年旅舍)

What & Where to Eat

  • Must-Try Dishes:
    Beijing-style Roast Duck (北京烤鸭)
    Lotus Root Dishes (莲藕菜)
    Zha Jiang Mian (炸酱面, noodles with soybean paste)
  • Famous Spots:
    Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (全聚德烤鸭店)
    Bianyifang Roast Duck (便宜坊烤鸭店)
    Local noodle and dumpling shops near Xicheng District (西城区小吃店)

What Souvenirs to Buy

  • Lotus-themed handicrafts (荷花工艺品)
    Traditional Chinese calligraphy (书法作品)
    Paper fans and scrolls (纸扇/画卷)
    Tea from local Beijing shops (北京茶叶)

Transportation

  • By Subway: Take Line 4 to Xisi Station (西四站) or Line 1 to Ping’anli Station (平安里站) and walk ~10–15 minutes to the park.
  • By Bus: Routes 10, 111, 204, 615, 626 stop near Lianchi Park entrances.
  • By Taxi/Private Ride: ~20 minutes from Tiananmen Square or Xidan shopping area.
  • Walking/Bicycle: Easily accessible from surrounding Xicheng District hutongs; bike rentals available nearby.

Nearby Attractions

  • Xidan Shopping Street (西单商业街), 1 km – 10–15 minutes walk
  • Beijing Capital Museum (首都博物馆), 1.5 km – walk or short taxi ride
  • Financial Street (金融街), 1.8 km – taxi or ~20 minutes walk

Tips for Visitors

  • Visit in summer to see lotus flowers in full bloom.
  • Best photography in morning or late afternoon for soft natural light.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes; paths can be uneven near ponds.
  • Participate quietly in local leisure activities like tai chi or singing without disturbing others.
  • Check the park for seasonal cultural events and festivals.
  • Bring water and light snacks if planning to stay longer in the park.
  • Respect park rules; do not litter or pick flowers.

Recommended itineraries

  • 1-Day Route:
    D1: Lianchi Park (莲池公园) – Xidan Shopping Street (西单商业街) – Financial Street (金融街)
    Transportation: Walk between attractions; short taxi if needed
  • 2-Day Route:
    D1: Lianchi Park (莲池公园) – Beijing Capital Museum (首都博物馆)
    D2: Xidan Shopping Street (西单商业街) – Nearby Hutongs exploration (西城区胡同)
    Transportation: Walk or short taxi rides
  • 3-Day Route:
    D1: Lianchi Park (莲池公园) – Lotus Photography and Pavilion Exploration
    D2: Beijing Capital Museum (首都博物馆) – Financial Street (金融街)
    D3: Xidan Shopping Street (西单商业街) – Local Snack Tour
    Transportation: Walking and taxis as needed

User Reviews

By Powerful Rainbow |

Since we can't travel far, we can just walk around the doorstep. Lotus Pond Park on the south side of Beijing West Railway Station is like a peaceful home, where people exercise and rest. Only the speeding train can disturb this peace. Under the clean blue and white sky, the lake is sparkling, and the children are having their conversations with the swans. On the basketball court, the 16-year-old little prince of breakthrough and the 60-year-old old man with hook shot are competing on the same court; on the open space under the mountain pavilion, the old comrade is talking in allegro, and his agile tongue makes my still young heart forget to go home.

By Chu Yunfei QQ |

Lianhuachi Park is located in the west of Beijing, close to Beijing West Railway Station. It is a free city park. It specializes in lotus cultivation. There is a special lotus cultivation area on the lake surface of the park, as well as a lotus cultivation area in flower pots. There is also a large open-air performance venue. In some years, the Spring Festival temple fair is held here.

By Qian |

There are many varieties of lotus, large quantities, graceful and beautiful.

By Gesang flowers on the grassland |

There is no entrance fee. There is a lotus festival every year with many varieties of lotus flowers, which is definitely worth a visit.

By Sisi Whisper |

It is an old park in Beijing, next to the West Railway Station. In summer, it is full of lotus flowers, which is very beautiful.

If you are arriving in or leaving Beijing from the West Railway Station, and you need to kill some time, you can go to the Lotus Pond Park for a walk. It is very close, just at the South Square of the West Railway Station.

By distance |

The ticket price will increase during the lotus exhibition, which is not pleasing. This is also a place for nearby people to exercise and keep fit.

By Small zinc |

People taking a morning walk all show off their talents. There are square dancing aunties, ballroom dancing old ladies, photography enthusiasts, bird-hunting old men, Henan opera singers, erhu players, mass choirs... There is everything. In short, no matter what you do, as long as you like it, it is reasonable as long as it does not hinder others.

By Breeze |

Beijing Lotus Pond Park is a great place to enjoy lotuses in early summer. It has convenient transportation and complete facilities. There are also facilities that children love very much.

By under |

Lotus Pond Park is right next to Beijing West Railway Station. Take the train to the Beijing-Guangzhou direction (including the high-speed rail) and you will see a corner of Lotus Pond Park as soon as you exit the station (you can only see a few small pavilions on the hill). Turn right and walk 50 meters from the South Square of the West Railway Station to the gate of Lotus Pond Park. The ticket is 2 yuan. It is quite nice to go in and take a rest. In the morning, the music of the aunties dancing in the square is deafening, playing instruments, and singing red songs - a bit unbearable for people with weak hearts. The park is not big, but the scenery is not small. The artificial lake called Lotus Pond occupies most of the park. From one side of the West Railway Station, you can see CCTV. In the evening, photography enthusiasts with long guns and short guns choose a place to wait for the sunset to slide from the top of the TV tower; from the southwest shore of the artificial lake, you can see the panoramic view of the West Railway Station. There are always people who tease the useless rooftop pavilion of the West Railway Station, but from this perspective, the 10 million yuan is still worth it. What a good view it has given Lotus Pond Park. In summer, there are many lotuses planted in the Lotus Pond Park, some in the lake and some in pots. There are also many photography enthusiasts trying to take pictures there. During the Spring Festival, this is the venue for the temple fair. Can such a small park accommodate so many stalls? It is really unbelievable, and it is pitiful for the vendors, the park's moneymakers and the tourists. It is not easy. In short, although the park is small, it has been carefully cultivated and made quite presentable.

By yf890312 |

Lianhuachi Park is located in the northeast of Liuliqiao, Fengtai District. It is located at the intersection of Xuanwu, Fengtai and Haidian Districts, close to Jingmen-West Railway Station, and is a first-class ancient site park in Beijing. It is the birthplace of Beijing City. There is a saying that "there was a lotus pond before there was Beijing City". It has a history of more than 3,000 years. The newly built Lianhuachi Park in the 1980s covers an area of ​​53.6 hectares and is a tourist destination that retains the original scenery and water fun.

By Ai Lian Jushi |

The characteristic of Lianhuachi Park is that it is next to the West Station and surrounded by tall buildings. If you are a nearby resident, this is a good place to go. If you want to go there for fun, there is no need to recommend it.

By yinxin9510 |

Lianhuachi Park is located next to Beijing West Railway Station. You can take the subway from the West Station and arrive at the East Gate, or you can get off at Liuli Bridge East and arrive at the South Gate when you get out of the subway. The Lianhuachi Temple Fair is held here every Spring Festival. Although it is not as lively as the Ditan Temple Fair, it is also crowded and has its own characteristics. If you are afraid of crowds, you can go here to visit the temple fair. The largest "Cultural Square" in the park allows you to choose different activities.

By Sinian Little Lich |

Originally a lake in the western suburbs of Jicheng, the capital of Yan, the Jin Dynasty built its capital in the east of the lake. As a lake in the west of the city and a water source for the city, the Lotus Pond is an important object for studying the location of Jin Zhongdu. The Lotus Pond is a lake in the Lotus Pond Park, covering an area of ​​more than 200,000 square meters. It is a typical urban water system heritage park in Beijing today. From Jicheng, the beginning of Beijing City, to the capital of Liao and Jin, they all depended on the Lotus Pond for survival and development. More than 3,000 years ago, Jicheng was built with the spring water here as the water source. After the water from the Lotus Pond flows south, it flows into the Liangshui River, passes through Zhangjiawan in Tongzhou District, and then into the North Canal. The water source of the ancient Lotus Pond was quite abundant, and the lake surface was considerable at that time. "Shui Jing Zhu" recorded: "The lake is two miles from east to west and three miles from north to south. It is the old pond of Yan. The green water is clear and the river pavilions have distant views. It is also a great place for tourism." During the Jin Zhongdu era, the Lotus Pond was further utilized. It was not only used as a water source, but also as the basis for landscape construction. For example, the West Garden and Taiye Pond (the Fish and Algae Pond in Zhongdu City) both used this lake as their water source.

By lftang |

Lianhuachi Park is located south of Lianhua Bridge on the West Third Ring Road in Beijing. It has convenient transportation and beautiful scenery. Every summer, lotus flowers bloom in the lake. "The lotus leaves are endless and green, and the lotus flowers are particularly red in the sun" is a true portrayal of the scenery of Lianhuachi Park at this time.

By liangjian1970 |

The main area of ​​Lotus Pond Park is the lake, which is very large, said to be more than 10,000 mu, accounting for about half of the park. The lake is rippling with clear waves, and the cruise ships are swaying in the water.

Large patches of lotus stand tall and gracefully, and the lake, lotus, buildings and blue sky form a unique scenery in Beijing in midsummer.

By Xiaoyue |

The temple fair in Lianhuachi Park is a tradition that is held every year. Many locals come here to join in the fun and go shopping, which is very festive.

By Xinyuan |

I heard that the Lotus Pond Park has the most lotus flowers, they are so beautiful! ! ! ! The ticket is only two yuan, I feel that the cost performance is higher than that of the Summer Palace, my personal opinion! !

The lotus flowers in Lianhuachi Park are so beautiful!!! It's a great place to take photos, right next to Beijing West Railway Station!!!

By satv |

The west gate of Lianhuachi Park is on the side of West Third Ring Road, and the east gate is on the west side of the South Square of West Railway Station. It is a first-class ancient site park in Beijing.

By lxh1950 |

This park is not big. As the name suggests, there is a big lotus pond inside. Many people come here to enjoy the lotus and take photos during the lotus blooming season. There is also a pond specially set up for people who like fishing. There is also a children's playground. Many nearby residents bring their children here to play on weekends.

By Itchy Bear |

Every year when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, there is an endless stream of people coming here to photograph the lotus flowers. There are many varieties of lotus flowers here, making it the best place to photograph lotus flowers in Beijing.