Shichahai

Houhai Lake is situated north of the Forbidden City and makes for a lovely walk or cycle from Tiananmen Square to Beihai Park to Houhai Lake. The tree-lined, rutted lakeside pathway is a bustle of hutong life and color: students heading for class, street traders, fruit sellers, cafes and throngs of cyclists. In the evenings, Houhai is a buzz of activity with some trendy bars and high-end restaurants. The area is known colloquially as the "Back Lakes" or locally as "Shichahai."