Seven Outdoor Skating Rinks to Embrace Winter
Ice skating season is firmly upon us, and we'd have to admit, there's nothing quite like skating in the open air on a frozen lake. Thankfully, there are plenty of such places in Beijing during the winter months where you can lace up some skates, hop on an ice bike, or even do some zorbing all out in the open air. Below, we've highlighted some of the top spots that have already opened for the season.
Shichahai
One of the most popular spots to strap on some skates, Shichahai – aka Houhai as it's commonly known – swaps out boats for skates and other ice-friendly vehicles once winter hits. Shichahai's central location makes it a super easy place to get to and with all the bars and restaurants surrounding it, you've got tons of options to warm up with some food or a drink afterward! Slowboat Shichahai are even doing a special deal on their Mulled Wine for the skating season, which you can read more details about here and in the poster below.
Shichahai 什刹海冰场
5 Qianhai Nanyan, Xicheng District
西城区前海南沿5号
Price: RMB 100
Hours: 9am-9pm
The Summer Palace
If you're looking for plenty of space while skating, then you can't beat the Summer Palace with its massive Kunming Lake! Plus, with all the temples, bridges and other Chinese architecture in the background, it makes for one truly stunning place to skate.
Summer Palace 颐和园昆明湖冰场
Kunming Lake, Yihe Yuan, Haidian District
海淀区颐和园昆明湖
Price: RMB 50
Hours: 8.30am-5pm
The Old Summer Palace
The lesser-known Old Summer Palace has transformed into a complete ice and snow world for the season. Here, along with ice skating, they have a range of other activities like sledding, zorbing, driving in a mini tank (yep you read that right) and more.
Old Summer Palace 圆明园冰场
28 Qinghua Xilu, Qinglongqiao Jiedao, Haidian District
海淀区青龙桥街道清华西路28号
Price: RMB 50
Hours: 8.30am-5pm
Chaoyang Park
If you're looking for a more central place to skate, then Chaoyang Park is a great option. Here you can do normal ice skating and they also have ice chairs, bikes and other activities. Like Shichahai, this is also a great option if you want to get some food and drink to warm up afterwards, with the Solana shopping mall being located nearby.
Chaoyang Park 朝阳公园冰场
(North) Chaoyang Park, Nongzhanguan Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区农展馆北路朝阳公园(北侧)
Price: RMB 100
Hours: 9am-6pm
Olympic Park
For those wanting to skate in the shadow of more modern architecture, there is the ice rink in the Olympic Park which gives you views of the Bird's Nest Stadium to the south and Olympic Tower to the north. This year they've expanded the area to 60,000 square meters, which includes various rinks with activities like normal ice skating, ice chairs and ice sleds. Ice Rink No.6 also stays open later than the other areas, making it perfect for an evening skate.
Olympic Park 奥园龙形水系冰场
Lakes 1-9, Longxing Shuixi, Olympic Park, Chaoyang District
朝阳区奥林匹克公园龙形水系1-9 号湖面
Price: All rinks, RMB 79/weekday, RMB 99/weekend; Rink No.6 only, RMB 40/weekday; RMB 50/weekend
Hours: Rink No.6, 9am-9pm; all other rinks, 9am-5pm
Purple Bamboo Park
Normally known for its stunning cherry blossoms during the spring, Purple Bamboo Park transforms during the winter months into an ice and snow park. Here you can go ice skating, use ice chairs, ice bicycles and even go ice dog sledding!
Purple Bamboo Park 紫竹院公园
35 zhongguancun Nandajie, Zhuziyuan Jiedao, Haidian District
海淀区紫竹院街道中关村南大街35号
Price: RMB 50
Hours: 9am-5pm
Shougang Park
Located right by the famous Big Air ski jumping ramp from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Shougang Park Ice rink is pretty large. Although it's a little far to get to, you'll be rewarded with far less crowds than at some of the other places on this list.
Shougang Park 首钢园冰雪
360 meters southeast of the intersection of Minghu Beilu and Minghu Xijie, Shijingshan District
石景山区汇群明湖北路与群明湖西街交叉口东南360米
Price: RMB 58/weekday; RMB 68/weekend
Hours: 10am-6pm
READ: Got Photos of Beijing in the Snow? Share Them With Us!
Images: Uni You, courtesy of the venues, Dianping
