White Dagoba
A white stupa crowns Jade Flower Island at the lake's centre, built in the 17th century on a Yuan-era mound. Climb it for a fine panorama over the water and the rooftops of the old city stretching beyond the walls.
Imperial Palaces & Gardens
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Beihai Park: Complete Visitor Guide
A lakeside imperial garden with a white dagoba and a nine-dragon wall
Beihai Park is a compact imperial lakeside garden in central Beijing, centred on White Dagoba hill, the glazed Nine-Dragon Screen and a calm lake. It is the most intimate of the city's old gardens and links straight to the Houhai lakes. This guide covers the tickets, boating on the water, the north-gate walk to Shichahai and the Line 6 Beihai Bei entrance. Allow two to three hours, then drift north into Houhai for the evening.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 06:30–20:00 (Apr–Oct) · 06:30–19:00 (Nov–Mar)
- Last entry
- 19:30 (Apr–Oct) · 18:30 (Nov–Mar)
- Closed
- Open daily
- Suggested time
- 2–3 hours
- Ticket price
- CNY 10 (peak) · CNY 5 (off-peak)
- Best season
- Late spring and autumn
- Booking
- Not required — walk in (ID check at gate)
- Nearest metro
- Line 6, Beihai Bei (Exit B)
Do You Need to Book?
Beihai is a public park and you can usually walk in, but the gate uses real-name ticketing against your ID, so carry your passport. No advance booking is needed except on the busiest holiday mornings, when a short queue may form.
- Take Metro Line 6 to Beihai Bei (Exit B), or approach from the south near the Forbidden City.
- Buy a ticket at the gate or scan the official park mini-program with your passport number.
- Enter and choose your loop: the island hill, the north shore, or a lake boat.
- Walk south to the White Dagoba or north toward the Nine-Dragon Screen and Houhai.
- Keep your passport handy; staff may check ID on entry during busy periods.
Getting There
By metro
Metro Line 6 to Beihai Bei (Exit B); the north gate is a 5-minute walk and feeds toward the Nine-Dragon Screen and Houhai.
By taxi
北海公园 北门 (north gate). For the south gate use 北海公园 南门.
Entrances
Enter at the North Gate for the Nine-Dragon Screen and Houhai link, or the South Gate near the Forbidden City for the White Dagoba first.
What to See Inside
Nine-Dragon Screen
One of Beijing's two glazed nine-dragon walls shows coiled dragons in vivid ceramic. Smaller and quieter than the better-known screen in the Forbidden City, it is an easy, photogenic stop on the park's north shore.
Boating on the Lake
Rent a paddle or pedal boat and circle Jade Flower Island; it is the standard way to see the dagoba from the water and the most relaxing thing to do on a warm afternoon. Jetties sit along the shore.
The North Shore to Houhai
Leaving by the north gate drops you into Shichahai and Houhai, a warren of hutongs, bars and lakeside walks. It is the natural next step after Beihai and needs no extra transport to reach.
Photo Gallery
A Lake Garden Since the Yuan
Beihai's origins trace to the 12th-century Jin dynasty, but its form came under Kublai Khan in the Yuan era, when the 'Lake of the Celestial Sea' was dug and Jade Flower Island raised as an earthly mirror of paradise. It sat just west of the Mongol capital that became Beijing. The design was meant to echo a description of a paradise mountain in Buddhist cosmology.
Ming and Qing rulers kept Beihai as an imperial garden beside the Forbidden City, adding the Round City, the Nine-Dragon Screen and the white dagoba after a 17th-century fire. The Qing court used it for small ceremonies and quiet retreat from the relentless affairs of state. The white dagoba replaced an earlier pavilion lost to that fire and still dominates the island.
Opened to the public in 1925, Beihai is now a beloved city park of about 70 hectares, half of it water. Its blend of Tibetan-style stupa, Chinese pavilions and open lake makes it the most intimate of Beijing's surviving imperial gardens and a favourite local escape. At dusk local retirees gather for dancing and singing, a daily ritual that visitors are welcome to join.
Suggested Route
- 1. North Gate entry Enter at Beihai Bei (Line 6 Exit B) and head to the Nine-Dragon Screen.
- 2. Lakeside walk south Stroll the west shore toward the causeway and Jade Flower Island ahead.
- 3. White Dagoba climb Cross to the island and climb to the stupa for the classic lake view.
- 4. Boat on the lake Rent a boat at a jetty and circle the island from the water.
- 5. Exit north to Houhai Leave by the north gate into Shichahai for hutongs, bars and dinner.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not skip the boat — circling the island by water is the best dagoba view.
- Enter at the North Gate if you want Houhai; the south gate is a longer walk.
- Avoid the midday crowds at the White Dagoba causeway; go early or late.
- Bring your passport; the gate may check ID even though no booking is needed.
- Do not confuse this with the Summer Palace — Beihai is small, central and quick.
Combine It With
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book Beihai Park?
No advance booking is needed — it is a public park you can walk straight into. Carry your passport, as the gate uses real-name ticketing and may check ID, especially on busy holiday mornings when a short queue forms.
How much does it cost?
Entry is about CNY 10 in peak season and CNY 5 off-peak; boats and the Round City are extra. It is among the cheapest imperial gardens in the city centre, and good value for the money you will spend on a long, lazy afternoon.
How long does a visit take?
Entry is about CNY 10 in peak season and CNY 5 off-peak; boats and the Round City are extra. It is among the cheapest imperial gardens in the city centre, and good value for the money you will spend there on a long, lazy afternoon.
When is the best time to go?
Late spring and autumn are ideal, with mild weather and clear light on the water. Arrive at the 06:30 opening to share the park with tai chi groups before the later crowds arrive and the light flattens.
Is Beihai worth it after the Summer Palace?
Yes, but differently. The Summer Palace is vast and imperial; Beihai is small, central and intimate, easy to pair with Houhai and the Forbidden City in a single day of palace-and-lake walking without leaving the centre.