	Shichahai, an example of the historic city of Beijing, incorporates the styles and features of old Beijing. Many of the extant houses and residences have stood for hundreds of years. Wandering around, you can see various remnant doors, piers, eaves, doorframes, carved stones… Many folk-art feature shops, located in the shopping center around Shichahai, such as the kite-shop, paper-cut-shop, embroidery-shop, lantern-shop, etc. make the place particularly attractive. Those businessmen who sell dough figurines, sugar figurines, sugar-coated haws on a stick and balloons are also eye-catching with their beautiful and vivid colors. If you want to look around Shichahai, biking is the best way to do so.

The existing streets and Hutongs (small lanes) will be preserved in Shichahai as the region has been designated as the buffer area of the Forbidden City. The narrow Hutongs are just wide enough for bikes or sightseeing pedicabs. Bicycle rentals, secure bike parking and bike repair shops are available around Shichahai. The tall aspen trees and weeping willows by the lakeside as well as the dense pagoda trees and Chinese jujubes in the Hutongs provide shades and coolness for cycling.

	Recommended cycling routes:
	1、Di’anmen Wai Dajie—Baimi Xiejie—Baimi Beixiang—Qianhai Nanyan—Jinding Bridge—Qianhai Dongyan—Yinding Bridge—Houhai Beiyan—Houhai Xiyan—Houhai Nanyan—Yinding Bridge—Dajinsi Hutong—Nanguanfang Hutong—Qianhai Beiyan—Qianhai Xijie—Qiangan Hutong—Three Bridges Hutong (one hour ride) 2、The Bell and Drum Towers—Gulou Xi Dajie—Houhai Alley—former residence of Soong Qingling—Houhai Beiyan—Ya’er Hutong—Guanghua Temple—Tobacco Pipe Lean Street (walk with bike)—Di’anmen Wai Dajie—Wanning Bridge—Baimi Xiejie—Baimi Beixiang—Qianhai Nanyan—Di’anmen Xi Dajie—Qianhai Xijie—Qiangan Hutong—Three Bridges Hutong—Qianhai Xijie—Liuyin Street—Prince Gong Palace—Houhai Garden (walk through with bike)—Houhai Nanyan—Dajinsi Hutong—Xiaojinsi Hutong—Nanguanfang Hutong—Qianhai Beiyan—Qianhai Xijie—former residence of Guo Moruo (sightseeing by bike for one day)