In Here, we will take you to Beihai Park, in the center of Beijing to show you around. And we will also take a closer look at some of the amateur singers entertaining themselves in the park and hear some of their beloved songs.

Beihai Park or North Sea Park is located half kilometer to the west of the north gate of the Forbidden City. The park covers a total area of over 68 hectares, half of which belongs to a lake. It's also home to one of China's finest classical gardens teeming with artificial hills, pavilions, halls, temples and covered corridors. It remains among the eight most prominent scenic spots in Old Beijing.

For centuries, the park served as the Emperor's garden. With the passing of times, dynasties decayed, the garden continues to maintain its exquisiteness and fascination.

Today, the former garden of the majesty himself has become a recreational center. The lakeside has become an ideal place for young couples to rendezvous and a great place to take a stroll.
Moreover, the park is a rally point for Beijing's amateur singers. Let's hear some of their songs:

Bands, singers and passionate musicians often gather at the delicate waterside of Wu Long Ting-Five Dragon Pavilions. Most of them have retired or on the night shift. They have the desire, not to mention the free time to express their talents through music.

As he said, most of the participants are retired or on night shift. Almost all of them are amateur practitioners, but they have strong interests in singing.

Majority of the singers are over 40 or 50 and their songs reflect those that were popular in the 60s or 70s. This song is very popular among them -Cao Yuan Shang Sheng Qi Bu Luo De Tai Yang. (The Never Setting Sun on the Plain)

Ok! Let's hear some of our recommendations before you decide to start a personal trip of discoveries.
The best visiting time would be summer and autumn, when plants are green and days are warmer.

Activities include taking a ferry between the western shore and the Jade Isle and visiting the classical gardens on the Northern Shore. Feeding fish in the pond inside those gardens would also be a great choice.

The most common route is to enter the park through the south gate, touring the island and then walking along the eastern bank to the north gate. Have a rest at the gate and stroll along the western bank while feasting your eyes on various halls, temples and pavilions. Another choice is to enter the south gate crossing the Beihai Bridge, touring the western bank first and then take a ferry across the lake to the Isle.

Main attractions besides the lake are the Round City, which contains a jade vase from the time of Kublai Khan, the Temple of Eternal Peace and the Nine Dragon Screen. The screen is actually 5-meters-high and 27-meters-long. The wall is covered with glazed tiles carved into nine intertwining dragons; and the White Pagoda on Jade Isle in the center of the lake.

If you have an appetite for Chinese food, then try some delicious court dishes at the Fangshan Restaurant on the Jade Isle that will leave you wanting more. Ok, we've come to this edition of Easy Travel. If you want to see more information about traveling in China, log on to our website at en.chinabroadcast.cn. If you want to share your stories with us, please write us.