Longtan Lake Park

Longtan Lake Park

Longtan Lake Park is located inside Zuoguanmen in Chongwen District, with the city moat to its south and east, and Zuoguanmen Street running through the lake. In recent years, a number of uniquely designed, elegantly styled classical garden structures have been built, making Longtan Park one of Beijing’s refined and modern garden parks.

The park has 300,000 square meters of water surface and 3,700 meters of meandering lakeshore, constructed with both natural and cut stones. Islands and hills in the lake complement each other, offering a sense of natural charm within an orderly layout. Lush trees and green lawns line the shore, while the lake water shimmers. The lakeside paths, pebble shallows, and terraced slopes offer endless variety—sometimes smooth and upright with sharp edges, other times layered with rocks, creating a delightful and refreshing atmosphere. Stone arch bridges, the Twin Pavilion Bridge, and the Longtan Waterfall divide the lake into four small islands, four peninsulas, three shallows, one canyon, and six green spaces at bridgeheads. Boating on the lake allows visitors to enjoy the scenic waters and pavilions.

The entire scenic area is themed around the dragon, forming five zones: the Dragon Chant Pavilion area, the Longtan area, the Dragon Character Stone Forest area, the Dragon Gate area, and the Lotus Pond and Flower Isle area. Here, not only are there various dragon-themed architectural structures, but the planted trees and flowers also cleverly incorporate dragon motifs. Dragon cypress, dragon beard willow, and dragon claw locust trees evoke associations with dragons. Strolling through the park, visitors feel as if they are walking through a world of dragons, constantly experiencing the powerful presence of these mythical creatures—an impact that is unparalleled compared to other scenic spots.

Within and near the park are famous historical sites such as the Temple of Yuan Chonghuan, a national hero, the Xizhao Temple (Ancient Cypress Hall), a pagoda from the Jin Dynasty, and the Willow Pond from the Qing Dynasty. There are also newly built attractions like Binxiang Garden and Mingxiang Water Pavilion. The reflections on the water and elegant pavilions make for a scene that visitors find hard to leave.