When you Travel to Beijing during winter, the best thing you can do is travel across Beijing frozen lakes. With the temperature during your china travel can commonly drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius or worse, the locals would make the most of the freezing temperatures and head for the city’s central lakes from some fun and excitement, with a difference of course.
There are 5 ways the locals would travel in Beijing’s frozen lakes, they don’t just ice skate like everyone else but they also ice cycle, drive ice bumper cars or push themselves round on a two wooden school chairs attached to metal runners. You can find most of the locals on the frozen lake in Houhai as the place are very big and nice for skating, bumper cars and etc.
The 5 ways that the local Beijinger crosses the Frozen Lake are:
Bumper Cars:
By using the bumper cars, no one in the lake will mess with you. It is very fun and you can ride it with a friend so you don’t have to feel lonely. You can be tin he safest state when you are in this electric-powered machines as no one will come near you.
Ice Bikes:
This is also very fun and it is also a mix of a good workout for your legs by skidding your way around Houhai on this bicycle on ice. Go easy on tight corner as it does get a little bit hard to get around to and also always be careful when riding it, you wouldn’t want to hit anybody that are ice-skating as well.
Chair Sleds:
This chair sled is a bit unique and everyone should definitely try it when they go to Houhai for some ice skating. This chair sled is like a two wooden school chairs that are bolted onto runners and propelled across the ice using what looks like a ski poles. But actually they are two fire pokers welded together with a screwdriver handle stuck to one end. There is a steering wheel attached infront of the chair sled but it is just for decoration only.
Mini Rickshaw:
This is only suitable for small kids and it is very small. Most kids will definitely use this when in Houhai and kids seems to love them. Kids can paddle themselves on the mini rickshaw and ride it on their own. It had a mini doll attached to it as well just for decoration.
Ice Skating:
This is the most classical thing to do when in Houhai. Most people who are more serious about the ice would ice skates as it is more fun. You can spin around the frozen lakes on skates but don’t expect a smooth ride as the surface in Houhai has a lot of chips. Just be careful and try to avoid any embarrassing wipeouts.
How to Skate in style:
It is easy to get your skates and bumper cars etc. Just go to one of the ticket booths and load up a swipe card with enough cash to cover what you’re planning to hire. The hire prices are as follows:
Bumper cars: 20RMB per 10 minutes, deposit 100RMB.
Bike: 30RMB per hour, deposit 100RMB.
Chair Sled: 20RMB per day, deposit 30RMB.
Mini Rickshaw: 10RMB per 10 minutes, no deposit required.
Skates: 20 RMB per day, deposit 100 RMB.
Your card will get swiped as you hire things. Once you’re done, return the card and get back any unused credit. You can also just pay in cash for the whole thing. You do not necessarily need a swipe card for the hiring of equipment.
Where to Skate in Style:
There are in fact three lakes in Beijing. There is the Qianhai (Front Lake), Houhai (Back Lake) and Xihai (West Lake). The one people skate on is called Qianhai but the area in general is called Houhai. The nearest subway station to Houhai is the Gulou Dajie Station.
So come on and book your Beijing Flights now and experience how the locals crosses their frozen lakes for fun!
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