Ice Skate Like a Real Beijinger

Beijing has a number of open-air and indoor ice skating rinks. But during the winter, it is the best time to have some fun in the open-air ice skating rink and ice skate like a Beijinger!

Skating outside on one of the city’s picturesque frozen lakes is one of the joys of Beijing. Grab a pair of skates (or an ice bike…) at one of these great spots.

 
Head to these rinks around town before they all melt!!

Summer Palace 颐和园

For winter revelry, no backdrop is more breathtaking than Beijing’s imperial gardens. So count your lucky mittens that the Summer Palace has opened its beautiful Kunming Lake for ice-based cavorting.

Skates are sadly forbidden; only sleigh-like ice-carts (basically chairs on skis) and ice-bicycles are permitted (‘icicles’, surely?). But don’t let that dampen your spirits, since ice-cycling is actually bucket-loads of fun.

There’s a generous stretch of the lake to ride on, from near Longevity Hills to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and a welcome lack of excessive fencing, unlike at many other lakes. Plus, it’s nowhere near as crowded as Houhai, even at weekends.

Opening Hour: 8.30am-4.30pm

Ticket:

Entrance the park: RMB20/person

Ice Rink: Depends on which activity, starts from RMB20 – RMB100/person

Address: No.23, Gongmen Qianjie, Haidian District

Shichahai (popularly known as Houhai) 什刹海 后海

When speaking of outdoor ice rink, people will firstly think of Houhai. Shichahai skating rink is located in Houhai. It is an open-air skating rink. Warm your body up before playing outside and keep moving!

Houhai ice rink has different area for multi of activities, such as children playground, for the professional ice skaters, for ice hockey and this year they specially open an area for ice football!

Playing football on ice is traditional winter activity for the Beijinger, but it is a little bit different from the football you know.

People can also enjoy sliding down from the slide that carve from ice or dodgem on ice!

There are more fun fun fun activities are waiting for you to try out!

 
Opening Hour:

Day: 9am-5.30pm

Night: 6pm-9.30pm

Ticket:

Weekday: RMB 60/person

Weekend: RMB 80/person (Including holidays)

Address: No. 50, Houhai Beiyan

Beihai Park 北海公园

Beihai park was built as the Winter Palace for the royal family to enjoy the ice skating show in Qing Dynasty.

The ice rink divided by 4 different activities and this winter they have a new entertainment program, is called drifting on ice. While people riding on the special bike, they can do drifting by going through the aisle on the left and right.

Skaters can enjoy the views of white tower, travel winter landscape, so as to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and find endless joy and excitement here.

 Opening Hour: 9am-5pm

Ticket:

Entrance the park: RMB 5/person

Ice Rink: RMB 80/person (Including weekend)

Address: Beihai Park, No. 1, Wenjin St, Xicheng District

Peking University 北京大学

Skate among China’s brightest young minds at Peking University’s famous Not Yet Named Lake (wei ming hu 未名湖), a short walk from the campus’ east gate. The lake here isn’t huge but it’s located under a charming little pagoda that’s seemingly ancient, yet was only built in the 1920s.

Here you can feel the buzz of youthful energy: students, kids, young couples and quirky professors high on ice.

At one end, the regular semi-pros glide about with one leg pointed skywards (for far too long), with cart-skating at the opposite side. From 3-5pm daily, there’s a mass skating lesson (Mandarin only) for newbies that makes for a curious sight in itself.

 
Opening Hour:

Weekday: 10am-7pm

Weekend: 9am-7pm

Ticket: RMB 20

Skate hire RMB 5/hour (student price), RMB 20/hour (regular price).

Address: Peking University, 5, Yiheyuan Rd, Haidian District.

Taoranting Park 陶然亭公园

As one of the major open-air ice rink, Taoranting park hosts its 7th winter carnival. On the west side of the lake area, there’s a mountain built with snow and people can slide down from the top to the bottom.

 Despite of these, the park also welcomes you with these cuties from Antarctica: the penguins! You can get to see these cute faces closely.

On the south of the east lake area, there’s a 10 meters tall, 60 meters wide, around 120 meters long of ski track for the beginners. In the park, there are 50 professional coaches to teach the children one-on-one and it provide the equipment for free (snowboard and skis are both can be provided)

Opening Hour: 9am-5pm

Ticket: RMB 50/person

Address: Taoranting Park, No. 19, Taiping St