When the cruise ship sails on the meandering river of Beijing, it feels like stepping into a flowing historical scroll, where the beauty of ancient and modern intertwines and unfolds slowly before your eyes.
#01 Tongzhou Grand Canal Cruise
Starting from May 19th, the Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Area has added a daily route from Pier 2 to the Three Major Cultural Facilities Pier. You can board the ship from Pier 2 at the Olympic Park in the Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Area (Central Zone), sail for 25 minutes to reach the Three Major Cultural Facilities Pier, then walk for about 25 minutes to reach the Beijing Grand Canal Museum after disembarking.
Visitors can enjoy a 20% discount on boat tickets with the ticket stub (including e-tickets) of the "This Is the Shang" exhibition to visit the exhibition by boat.
The "This Is the Shang" exhibition currently held at the Beijing Grand Canal Museum is in full swing, showcasing 338 pieces (sets) of cultural relics from 28 cultural units nationwide, including oracle bones, bronze ware, pottery, jade, etc., with over 50 pieces (sets) of key cultural relics. The exhibition will last until October 12th. Visitors can uncover the secrets of the Shang civilization by the Grand Canal, spanning over 3500 years.
Exhibition information
Exhibition period: May 19th to October 12th Location: Beijing Grand Canal Museum (East Wing of the Capital Museum) Halls 1 and 2
Tickets: Available for purchase through the official WeChat Official Account and mini-program of the Capital Museum and Beijing Grand Canal Museum
Interpretation Service: Audio guides can be rented at the entrance of the exhibition hall; Free guided tours are available at scheduled times, every Tuesday to Friday at 11:00 and 15:00 (from now until October 12th, the exhibition will continue to be held during the exhibition period, subject to adjustments based on the museum's announcement)
The route operates in both directions, so after visiting the exhibition, you can also take a boat back to Pier 2 from the Three Major Cultural Facilities Pier.
For more information on boat tours, you can follow the "Beijing Tongzhou Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Service Platform" WeChat mini-program for details. Please refer to the official announcements for specific information. (Please plan your travel time well and arrive for ticket inspection 5 to 10 minutes before departure)
Step onto the canal cruise, shuttle on the ancient Grand Canal, and enjoy the picturesque scenery on both banks; passing by Yuedao Wenying Viewing Platform, Caoyun Wharf, and other attractions, it feels like traveling back to the ancient grandeur of the canal.
Enjoy the colorful night views along the way during the night cruise in the city's sub-center; in the dim light, experience the unique charm of the thousand-year-old canal, feel the interplay of light and shadow between the bustling commercial district and the ancient docks.
#02 Royal Imperial River Cruise
The cruise departs from the Beijing Zoo Pier, transfers at the Zizhuyuan Park Ziyuwan Pier, and finally arrives at the Nanruyi Pier of the Summer Palace, covering a total distance of 9 kilometers. Along the way, it passes by cultural landmarks such as the Zizhu Zen Temple, Wanshou Temple, and Wuta Temple, allowing visitors to enjoy different landscapes along the route and experience the rich historical culture of the Three Mountains and Five Gardens area.
The yellow-roofed and red-bodied painted pleasure boats, with the blue waves rippling on the water surface and willows on both banks... This is the famous "Viewing Willows along the River." This route is one of the oldest boat routes in Beijing, once used by the Qing Dynasty royal family to travel to the Summer Palace for summer retreat, also known as the "Royal Canal."
In addition, the Ziyuwan Pier has specially launched the "Annual Navigation Card," from the date of activation, cardholders can enjoy unlimited trips throughout the year.Route information: The Royal Canal cruise has one route, with stops at the Zoo Pier, Ziyuwan Pier, and Nanruyi Pier, passengers can choose to take the full route or board halfway at the Ziyuwan Pier.
Operating hours: Zoo Pier: 10:30-15:30; Ziyuwan Pier: 10:00-16:00; Nanruyi Pier: 10:30-16:30. Boats depart every hour (Note: Specific operating hours are subject to daily announcements)
Inquiry phone: 86-10-88511997
Ticket purchase methods:
Offline ticket purchase: Beijing Zoo (Haidian) Pier, Ziyuwan Pier (within Zizhuyuan Park), Summer Palace Nanruyi Pier
Online ticket purchase: Douyin, Meituan, Yunhe Changda Wechat Official AccountRecommended nearby attractions: Beijing Zoo
The Beijing Zoo currently exhibits about 400 species and over 5,000 rare wild animals. In the Panda Hall, the adorable Meng Lan lazily eats bamboo and plays leisurely. Monkey Mountain is filled with agile monkeys jumping around. In the Waterfowl Lake, swans and mandarin ducks swim freely in the shimmering water, creating a beautiful scene.
Zizhuyuan Park
As a natural-style landscape garden with numerous bamboo scenes, the Nanchang He (River) and Shuangzi Canal flow through the park. Surrounded by green bamboo, the environment is tranquil, with pavilions, corridors, pavilions, and halls arranged in a picturesque manner, making it a pleasant summer scenery.
This year, the Ziyu Bay Pier in Zizhuyuan Park has added the "Royal Canal Coffee," and also opened the "Royal Canal Cultural and Creative" section in the middle of the corridor at Ziyuwan Pier.
Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum (Wuta Temple)
Wuta Temple, originally named "Zhenjue Temple," was built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, known as a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty architecture and stone carving art, and a model of the integration of Chinese and foreign cultures. Today, it is the location of the "Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum." The museum is centered around ancient pagodas, displaying over 500 types of stone carvings from various dynasties in the open air.
The exhibition "Huai Lane and Lotus Wind - Beijing Seasonal Folk Culture Exhibition Summer Edition (槐巷荷风——北京岁时节令民俗文化展夏季篇)" is open to the public in the exhibition hall on the west side of the museum, lasting until June 18th (closed on Mondays).Summer in the Summer Palace, with faint green hills and tranquil blue waters, whether boating on the lake or strolling along the West Causeway, it feels like stepping into a scroll of poetry and painting.
Chiseled Grace - Exhibition of Yangzhou's Eight Carving Arts and Imperial Carvings
Exhibition Period: April 22nd - July 20th
Exhibition Content: Created by the Beijing Summer Palace Management Office and the Yangzhou Museum, 158 pieces/sets of treasures are on display. From exquisite jade carvings, delicate porcelain carvings to intricate ivory carvings, each exhibit embodies the wisdom and effort of ancient craftsmen."Plowing and Weaving in Spring and Harvesting in Autumn, Weaving and Dyeing in the Scenery of Lakes and Mountains (耕织春华秋实，织染湖光山色)" Four Seasons Themed Chinese Flower Garden
Types of flowers: Lotus Peony, Endless Summer, Purple Lilac, etc., perennial flowers and small shrubs
Flowering period: May - mid-October
Flower garden viewing location: Plowing and Weaving Scenic Area
#03 Liangma He (River) Cruise
Liangma He (River) connects Sanlitun, Yansha, and SOLANA, as well as multiple attractions such as Chaoyang Park and Prince Gong's Mansion. Along the way, there are various restaurants, cafes, and pubs, and activities like paddling, skateboarding, cycling, running, and painting are available.
The night tour project connects "1 river, 2 lakes, 24 bridges, and 18 attractions." Integrating 5G, digital light and shadow, VR, and other technologies to create an immersive night cruise experience.Route Information: Liangma He (River) Cruise has 6 routes, with boat types including 12-seat open boats and 34-seat water buses. Four routes are open on weekdays, with SOLANA Pier and Yansha Pier among the cruise terminals.
Operating hours: Daytime: 14:30-18:30, Nighttime: 19:00-22:30
Ticket purchase: Visitors can choose their preferred route on the "Liangma River International Customs Waterfront" mini-program, including the SONALA Loop and International Customs Line (passing through the lock), for a scenic tour lasting over 40 minutes. Nearby attractions recommend SOLANA.
Experience a different exotic charm at SOLANA, where European-style buildings are even more pleasant under the lights. Here, there are exotic cuisines, dreamy art installations, and colorful lights adding a touch of color to the central fountain. The gentle evening breeze ripples the lake surface, creating a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
From now until October 8th, the 4th SOLANA Art Season is making a grand return. 22 universities will showcase thousands of works, with immersive dance performances, jazz music, traditional Chinese music, and more. On weekends, you can enjoy boundaryless LIVE concerts, bring your kids to pottery workshops, eat and watch art flash mobs at the lakeside food street, and let life encounter poetry!
Twenty-Four Bridges
Riding the Liangma He (River) cruise will pass by more than ten scenic spots, such as Guanlan Qiao (Bridge), Liuli Qiao (Bridge), Lanmeng Qiao (Bridge)... The most romantic is the Haoyun Qiao (Bridge), where the boat enters, as if entering the dream world of Van Gogh's starry sky.
After passing the Haoyun Bridge is the Bogong Ship Lock, where you can enjoy the first domestic water-based ultra-high-definition naked-eye 3D light and shadow performance, with soaring dragons, elegant phoenixes, vast starry universe... as if all within reach.
Note: The pictures in this article, except for those marked, are all from previous years' materials.
Some picture sources: Beijing Tongzhou Release, Beijing Grand Canal Museum, Visit Tongzhou WeChat Official Account, Beijing Haidian, Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum, Beijing Chaoyang, Beijing Chaoyang Culture and Tourism, SOLANA, SOLANA International Business District WeChat Official Account.
