Back Lakes

It was another of those cold, windy, dusty/smoggy days, so we decided to do some local sightseeing. It turns out that there is a popular area known as the Back Lakes just a mile or so from our apartment. It is an area running along three lakes, Xihai, Houhai, and Qianhai, just north of the more famous Behai Lake Park. The area has a mixture of lakeside walks and pleasure activities such as boating and fishing, rather scruffy little bars with outside sofas that might be nice in the summer, other touristy shops, and some remaining the back alleys known as Hutong's, the homes of the Beijingers who don't live in tall apartment blocks. It adds up to a welcome relief from the hustle of the city.

I took too may photos for one post, so I'll show the touristy sights today, and put the back-alley pictures up on another day.


City Oasis


Tourist Sign
You can tell from this sign, especially the English translations, that this is a tourist area....


...but there are some peaceful parts too. The willows were coming into leaf, another sign of spring.

Some Chinese whimsy along the way...


Wild Duck House
The accompanying signs said that the wild ducks were very thankful for the accommodation!


Another Duck!


Boats for Hire
Sycee Bridge is between Lakes Qianhai and Houhai, and is probably the center of the tourist area.


Sycee Bridge Area


Sycee Bridge
Pedi-Cabs are the main means for tourist transport around the area. You often see long strings of them, presumably taking a tour group around. Sometimes the narrow streets can get quite jammed!


Pedi-Cabs


Pedi-Cab Tour



Pedi-Cab Jams