Lotus Pond Park

　　Lotus Pond Park is located south of Beijing West Railway Station, adjacent to the West Third Ring Road, covering an area of 440,000 square meters, including 156,000 square meters of water surface. It is a cultural heritage site protected by Beijing Municipality. In 2002, it was listed as a 2A-level tourist attraction.

　　A-level tourist attraction (site).

　　In ancient times, Lotus Pond Park was known as West Lake, Tai Lake, or South River Pool. The “Tian Zhi Ou Wen” records: “The South River Pool, commonly called Lotus Pond, is located south of the stone road outside Guangning Gate. A man surnamed Wang planted trees here and built pavilions. There is a large pool about ten acres wide, covered with red and white lotuses, where one can go boating. In the height of summer, visitors flocked here.” It stretches one kilometer from east to west and 1.5 kilometers from north to south. During the Liao and Jin dynasties, the capital was established southwest of Lotus Pond. It now serves as physical evidence for the study of the location and terrain of the historical Jin Zhongdu, which relied on this pond as a key water source. In later dynasties, when the capital moved northward, the site gradually fell into disuse.

　　Before the 1960s, Lotus Pond still had clear water and tree-lined shores. Since the 1970s, however, industrial development upstream led to water pollution, turning the pond into a stinking cesspool. Polluted water from upstream was directly channeled into underground pipes, and since then, Lotus Pond has remained a dry lake without water—existing in name only.

　　In November 1998, the Capital Planning Commission approved the restoration and renovation plan for Lotus Pond Park. The Fengtai District Government established the Lotus Pond Restoration and Renovation Office, officially launching the project. The park built a 10,000-square-meter fitness area and planted tens of thousands of lotus roots, gradually restoring its former glory. A temple fair is held here every Spring Festival. Lotus Pond Park has now become a modern classical-style garden that integrates entertainment, leisure, and education.

　　Location: West Third Ring Middle Road

　　Transportation: Buses 6, 50, 340, 613, 620, 704, 822, 927, 368

　　Special Line 7

　　Contact: 010－63723344

　　010－63716402

　　010－63725154

　　Ticket: 2 yuan

Lotus Pond Park is aAA-level attraction