On September 11th, I attended the night tour performance "Impression- Inner Peace"(印·静心) at Beihai Park in Beijing, which was truly impressive. I can't wait to share it with you.

The starting point was the front gate of Jingxin Studio(very close to the North Gate of Beihai Park), where we were greeted by the playing of a flute and a welcoming speech.

Then we were invited to enter the gate, and we were welcomed by the Qing Palace Welcome Dance in the corridors of Jingqing Studio. Jingqing (Clear Mirror) studio is the principal structure of Jingxin studio Garden. Five bays wide, the main hall has corridors in front, a belvedere at the rear and verandas surrounding a square pond on four sides attesting to the designer's emphasis on water scenery. Emperor Qianlong (1736-95) described the elegance of the structure in a poem which includes the following lines:"Sitting in the house facing the lake, one seems to be looking into a mirror" The building s name plaque bears the handwiting in official-script style by the famous Chinese diplomat Lu Zhengxiang (1871-1942).

Then we proceeded to Yunqin Studio to enjoy the clear and melodious guqin performance. Yunqin Studio is adjacent to a pond surrounded by greenery, and next to it is the royal study, which was built in the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1758). There could not be a better place to listen to the guqin.

Next, the breathtaking garden vistas unfolded before us.

We enjoyed the breathtaking Startled Swan Dance(Jing Hong Wu) performed in the Zhenluan Pavilion.

As we savored the imperial-style dim sum at the Qinquan Corridor, we also admired the delicate and lyrical solo dance Rain Shattering Jiangnan(Yu Sui Jiang Nan) on the Xiaoyudai Bridge.

Let's have another view of the beautiful garden before we move on to the next spot.

In the west wing's moon-shaped gate, we savored an excerpt from the classic Kunqu Opera Peony Pavilion: A Startled Dream from a Garden Excursion(Youyuan Jingmeng).

The event reached its climax in front of the golden nanmu hall at the Xitian Fanjing Scenic Area. The grand finale was the "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras Dance(Dunhuang Feitian Wu)", a standout performance that concluded the cultural gala. With ethereal grace, the dancers blended seamlessly into the ancient architecture, their movements echoing the fluidity of flying celestial beings from Dunhuang murals. Against the backdrop of this hall—imbued with profound historical and artistic value—the performance delivered a dual shock to the audience's senses and souls. It was a fitting finale to the entire cultural event, leaving a lasting impression of beauty and wonder.

The hall was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620). Countless structural components of the entire hall, including the columns, beam brackets, purlins, dougong (a unique Chinese wooden bracket system), roof sheathing, and doors and windows, are all made of golden nanmu.

Golden nanmu boasts remarkable properties: it is impervious to water, uninvaded by termites, and resistant to rot and erosion. Additionally, it emits a unique delicate fragrance. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been exclusively used for royal construction.

What's amazing is that even after all these years, when you stand in front of the hall, you can still catch the faint, pleasant fragrance of nanmu!

On our way out, we passed by the famous Nine-Dragon Wall and also saw people dressed in ancient-style costumes taking photos in front of the Huazang Realm Memorial Archway.

I spent some time enjoying the breeze in the park.

Out of the North Gate of Beihai Park. Even the gate is beautiful, isn’t it?

And a peaceful walk to the metro station.

My thoughts on the tour:

I was surprised that I had never noticed this route before. It is truly beautiful and well worth a visit. Everything is aesthetically pleasing and a delight to the eyes.  During the day, the entrance is included in the Beihai Park entrance fee, which is 10 CNY. At night, however, it remains closed unless there is a night tour scheduled. Therefore, if you do not have time for a night tour, I strongly recommend visiting during the day.

Practical information on the "Impression- Inner Peace":

Activity time: It is held from Tuesday to Sunday evening, with two sessions arranged daily. The specific times are 19:15-20:00 and 19:45-20:30. The activity will last until the National Day holiday(1 Oct).

Activity route: The route connects the essence of the night views of the Jingxinzhai and Xitian Fanjing Scenic Area, allowing tourists to shuttle through the classical gardens smoothly.

Performance content: Tourists can enjoy the elegant welcome dance, the melodious guqin performance, the graceful “Startled Swan Dance(Jinghong Wu)”, the tender solo dance "Rain Shattering Jiangnan", the classic Kunqu Opera "The Peony Pavilion" in sequence. The finale is the "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras Dance(Dunhuang Feitian Wu)" in front of the golden nanmu hall in the Xitian Fanjing Scenic Area.

Ticket information: Tickets can be purchased online through multiple channels such as Meituan, Tongcheng, Qunar, and the official WeChat account of Beijing City Beihai Park(北京市北海公园). Current price is 68CNY per ticket. Each session is limited to 80 people.

How to get there: For public transportation, you can take Metro Line 6, get off at Beihai Bei Station, enter through the North Gate, then turn right and walk along the lake for about 4 minutes to reach Jingxin Studio. You can also take a taxi to the North Gate of Beihai Park.

The opening hours of Beihai Park are as follows:

Park Opening Hours

Peak Season (April 1 - October 31): 6:00 - 21:00 (Last entry at 20:30)

Off-Season (November 1 - March 31): 6:30 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30)

Opening Hours of In-Park Gardens and Small Courtyards(including the night tour places)

Peak Season (April 1 - October 31): 8:00 - 18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)

Off-Season (November 1 - March 31): 8:30 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)

All in-park gardens (except Tuancheng) are closed every Monday, except for legal holidays.

Yours Truly

Angie Guo - Charmission Travel