Jinyu Pond Middle Area Community

Jinyu Pond Middle Area Community

The Jinyu Pond Middle Area Community serves as a patriotic education base.

Before liberation, the Jinyu Pond area was filthy, infested with mosquitoes and flies, where countless “little Niuzi” lost their happy childhoods — this was the Dragon Whiskers Ditch described by Lao She. After liberation, the Party and the government carried out three large-scale management and renovation projects in the Jinyu Pond area, continuously improving the environment and the living conditions of its residents.

Today, the Jinyu Pond Middle Area Community covers an area of 0.04 square kilometers, comprising 20 residential buildings with 1,080 households. The neighborhood retains the traditional Beijing courtyard layout, forming semi-enclosed courtyard complexes. It also features many sculptures depicting the lives of old Beijing residents, themed around the transformation of Dragon Whiskers Ditch. The community includes a high-tech cultural gatehouse equipped with an electronic screen, a science and technology smart island, a youth science education activity base, a community cultural corridor, a community health station, a community weather station, a fitness park, science display windows, a model of the Shenzhou VI spacecraft, and a digital home among other facilities. Among them, the government-invested key project — a kilometer-long underground activity center — not only provides an important venue for community activities but also houses the “Jinyu Pond Transformation History Photo Exhibition,” documenting the results of the three renovations. In March 2011, it was designated as a district-level patriotic education base.

Featured Event: Jinyu Pond Community Festival

The predecessor of the Jinyu Pond residential area was the “Dragon Whiskers Ditch” written about by Lao She. On April 18, 2001, the Party and government carried out the largest renovation project on the Jinyu Pond area. On April 18, 2002, the first batch of residents moved back in. The residents designated April 18th of each year as the “Jinyu Pond Community Festival,” using colorful cultural events to tell the story of Jinyu Pond’s transformation, showcase the changes in the community, and envision new life. To date, the “Jinyu Pond Community Festival” has been successfully held for nine editions.

Address: Room 101, Unit 2, Building 22, Jinyu Pond Middle Area, Dongcheng District

Opening Hours: 9:00–11:00; 14:30–16:30 (excluding holidays)

Admission: Free (advance reservation required one week in advance)

Phone: 67023463 / 67012676

Public Transport: Take bus routes 34, 35, 106, 707, 743, etc., and get off at Tiantan Beimen or Jinyu Pond Station.