Beijing - Haidian

Haidian (海淀 Hǎidiàn) is a large district in the north-west of Beijing.

Travel to Beijing - Haidian - Visa Requirements

Haidian has been a major beneficiary of the recent subway expansions: the new lines 10 and 13 make it easier to reach by public transport. Taxis from the central Beijing districts may take 30-45 minutes; buses even longer.

Beijing - Haidian tourist attractions and sightseeing

• The Summer Palace(颐和园Yíhéyuán). Extensive gardens and the ruins of palaces constructed by the Qing emperors. In 1860, foreign soldiers damaged much of what was then known as the "Garden of Clear Ripples", but the area would be rebuilt and renamed by the Empress Dowager Cixi, using funds intended for modernizing the Qing navy. Most visitors stay in the front hill area, but if you prefer quiet places, the west bank and back hill areas are good choices. There are some quiet and secret ruins, caves, and other fun stuff in the back hill area. You could easily take bus No. 690 or 808 from Tian'anmen Square to the terminal station, the Summer Palace. The Bus 826 would bring you from Temple of Heaven to Summer Palace.Around ¥30.  

• The Old Summer Palace(圆明园Yuánmíngyuán), 28 Qinghua West Road 清华西路28号, ☎ +86 10 62543673. Built in the 18th and early 19th centuries, these gardens were home to the emperors and Qing court. After their 1860 destruction by British and French troops the gardens was not restored, and the ruins that can be seen today still serve as a reminder of the costs of imperialism. Bus 690 from Tian'anmen will also get you here.¥10 entrance.  

• Fragrant Hills(香山Xiāng Shān), (in the northwest of Beijing). A good place for weekend outings and picnics. Formerly a Qing imperial garden, today Fragrant Hills makes an easy short climb in the suburbs of Beijing. It's also home to the Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by noted architect I.M. Pei (Louvre Museum Pyramid). Take buses 331, 360 or 634 to the last stop.Admission Fee is ¥10, students ¥5.  

• Beijing Botanical Gardens(北京植物园Běijīng Zhíwù Yuán), (Take buses 331, 726). Steps away from the east gate of Fragrant Hill. Acres of greenery and flowers for those tired of urban smog and traffic noise. Sir Johnston, teacher of the last emperor Puyi, had a villa in Cherry Glen, a silent and beautiful retreat in the Gardens. In the spring, the gardens hosts special exhibits of tulips, peach and plum blossoms, peonies, and the like.¥10, students ¥5.  

Beijing - Haidian city tours

• Tour the University District. Peking and Tsinghua universities are the two most prestigious in China, and have attractive campuses next to one another at the center of Beijing's university district. Not many tourists visit, and so during the summer vacation months they can be relatively tranquil spots amidst Beijing busyness. Walk west from is Wudaokou (五道口 Wǔdàokǒu) on subway line 13. 

Beijing - Haidian souvenirs and shopping

• Golden Resources Shopping Mall(金源时代购物中心Jīnyuán Shídài Gòuwù Zhōngxīn), near Yuanda Bridge / Yuanda Road off the West Fourth Ring Road in Haidian District. The mall covers 680.000 square meters, and is the second largest in Asia. Multiple stories, snaking alleys, infinite shopping opportunities... you get the gist. 

• Zhongguancun(中关村Zhōngguāncūn). For the more technologically-oriented tourist, is a must. Located a couple miles from Tsinghua University, this area is dubbed the "Silicon Valley of China." There are a number of large electronics malls that sell everything from phones to computer parts. Pirated software and DVDs are also not hard to find here. Many of the shady characters outside the malls shouting 'DVD!' also sell pornography (illegal in China).The largest and most well-known malls include: 

• Hailong(海龙大厦Hǎilóng Dàshà).  
• Dinghao(鼎好大厦Dìnghǎo Dàshà).  

Beijing - Haidian Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

• Dong Lai Shun(东来顺Dōng Lái Shùn). Daily 11 AM-2 PM and 5-9 PM. This king of Beijing hotpot has been around since the 19th century. Founded by the Hui (ethnic Muslims), Donglaishun serves halal cuts of top-quality lamb and beef. Also serves cooked-by-chef dishes, including traditional Beijing sweets. 

• Haidian branch, 25 Yiheyuan Lu, 颐和园路25号, Haidian.  

Wudaokou (五道口 Wǔdàokǒu), where most of the foreign and local university students hang out. There are a number of bars and restaurants which serve a great variety of wine, beer and liquor for cheap. This area is also well known for its huge Korean population and a good place to find Korean food.

Beijing - Haidian nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

• Lush, Level 2, Bld. 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Wudaokou 五道口华清家园1号楼2层, ☎ +86 10 82863566, [1]. A very popular foreign student hangout, this bar has an open-mic night on Sundays. 

• Propaganda, ☎ +86 10 82893991. Just south of Lush, this bar/club is packed on weekends, with a mix of mainly Korean, Japanese, and Western students. 

Beijing - Haidian cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

• Friendship Hotel(友谊宾馆Yǒuyì Bīnguǎn), 1 Zhongguancun Nandajie 中关村南大街1号, ☎ +86 10 68498888, [2]. Built back in 1954 for foreign visitors to Beijing, this has been extensively modernized and remains a busy hotel. 

• Beijing Zhong Yu Century Grand Hotel(北京中裕世纪大酒店Běijīng Zhōng Yù Shìjì Dàjiǔdiàn), 31 Lianhuachi East Road, Haidian District 西客站北广场莲花池东路31号, ☎ +86 10 63989999, [3]. Located in Haidian District, the second-largest district in the capital’s urban area. It offers 208 air-conditioned rooms and appointed with a cable TV, mini-bar, refrigerator, room safe, IDD/ DDD telephone and broadband Internet.From ¥360.  

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This page was last edited by Julian Suddaby. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license