Introducing the Houhai
Houhai Lake, also called Back Sea, is one of the two most popular pub streets in Beijing. It refers to a lake and its surrounding neighborhood in Xicheng District of central Beijing. Along with Qianhai (Front Sea) and Xihai (West Sea), they comprise Shichahai, the collective name for the three northern-most lakes in central Beijing. And Houhai is the largest of the three lakes, with a size of 34 hectares. Back Sea is actually a giant man-made lake, which was cherished by the Mongol leaders. Since the early 2000s, the hutong neighborhood around Houhai has become known for its nightlife as many residences along the lake shore have been converted into restaurants, bars, and cafes. The area is especially popular with foreign tourists visiting Beijing and is also often visited by locals.The Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling and Prince Gong Mansion, as well as Bell and Drum Tower are all located in the Houhai neighborhood.