Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
中南海
), which you'll see on a map as the two lakes immediately west of the Forbidden
City, is set off solely for the government. The lake's surrounding high-security buildings
are the central headquarters of the Communist Party, and are what is sometimes referred
to as China's Kremlin. The nearby
hútòng
(alleyways) and their
sìhéyuàn
—the Chinese
equivalent of the American dream—are also once again becoming the homes of Beijing's
moneyed. While the poor struggle to keep a grip on their inner-city homes, the rich are mov-
ing in, restoring and gentrifying the ancient buildings, and adding a few modern touches,
such as private underground garages and luxury SUVs.
Zhongnanhai aside, Xicheng still boasts ample parks and waterways that the public can
access, including Beihai Park and Shichahai—the latter better known by its individual lake
names of Qianhai (Front Sea), Houhai (Rear Sea), and Xihai (West Sea). Mind you, these
are key tourist destinations, so they're not always the most tranquil.
