Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Song Qingling Former Residence
Push on along Houhai Beiyan and you'll come to the Song Qingling Former Residence.
Song is venerated by the Chinese as the wife of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of
China in 1912, and her house was once the home of the father of Puyi, China's last emper-
or. There's a lovely garden here and an interesting museum about Madame Song's life.
Xihai Lake
Turn left onto Houhai Xiyan and after 200m right onto an alley that connects with
Deshengmennei Dajie. Go across that street and down the alley opposite, which leads you
to Xihai Lake, the smallest of the three Houhai lakes but the most popular with local
anglers.
Prince Gong's Residence
Circle the lake anti-clockwise and return to Deshengmennei Dajie. Turn right and head
down it for 200m and then turn left into
Yangfang Hutong
, a good place to stop for cof-
fee or lunch. Follow the
hutong
to the right and enter Liuyin Jie, which leads down to
Prince Gong's Residence, perhaps the most impressive courtyard house in all Beijing.
Silver Ingot Bridge
Bear left at the end of Liuyin Jie and go onto Qianhai Xijie, which will take you to Qian-
hai Beiyan, the west shore of Qianhai Lake. Hug the lakeshore until you reach the Silver
Ingot Bridge.
Di'anmen Xidajie
Cross Silver Ingot Bridge and turn sharp right. Carry along the east shore of Qianhai,
passing
Yinding Bridge
on your left, until you reach Di'anmen Xidajie.
