Meet with Culture | Where City and Water Converge: From Wanning Bridge to Shichahai

This was once the northern terminus of the Grand Canal during the Yuan Dynasty, where grain transport boats sailed upstream from here.Today, it stands beside Beijing’s Central Axis, bustling with visitors.Right before us lies the Shichahai neighborhood — the largest and best-preserved historical district within the city of Beijing.

这里曾是元代京杭大运河的终点，漕粮船只经由此处溯流而上。今天，这里毗邻北京城中轴线，游人如织。北京城内面积最大、风貌保存最完整的什刹海街区就在我们眼前。

Today we’re exploring one of Beijing’s most charming historical landmarks — Shichahai.

This picturesque lake district is not only a beautiful scene, but also a witness to Beijing’s cultural evolution. From ancient times to today, Shichahai has always been a center where commerce and culture meet. Let’s dive into its deep history together!"

今天我们要探索的是北京最具魅力的历史地标之一 —— 什刹海。这片风景如画的湖区不仅是一处秀丽景致，更是北京文化变迁的见证。从古至今，什刹海一直是商业与文化的交融中心。让我们一同深入探寻它深厚的历史底蕴。

Shichahai, composed of Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai, is the largest and best-preserved historic district within Beijing’s Inner City.

In summer, its rippling waters, graceful willows, and blooming lotuses create a charming scene, praised in A Sketch of Scenery in the Imperial Capital as “West Lake in spring, Qinhuai in summer, and Dongting in autumn.”

It originated from ancient river courses left behind when the Yongding River changed its path, serving as vital evidence of Beijing’s urban development. When the Yuan capital Dadu was built, Liu Bingzhong used the eastern end of Shichahai as the baseline to draw a north-south axis, thus establishing the city’s Central Axis, which laid the framework for Ming and Qing Beijing and still shapes the axis today. In the Yuan Dynasty, Guo Shoujing diverted water to connect the canal, making Shichahai the northern terminus of the Grand Canal. The area around the Bell and Drum Towers therefore flourished and prospered. Today, Shichahai is home to renowned sites such as Prince Gong’s Mansion and Yinding Bridge, while also preserving the hutongs and everyday life of ordinary people. Along the cultural belt of the Central Axis, its distinctive waterways and cultural landscapes continue to carry the living memory of old Beijing."

什刹海由前海、后海和西海组成，是北京内城面积最大、风貌保存最完整的历史街区。

夏日，这里碧波荡漾、垂柳依依、荷花盛放，《帝京景物略》赞颂它是“西湖春、秦淮夏、洞庭秋”。

它起源于永定河改道遗留下的古河道，是北京城市发展的重要物证。元大都建城时，刘秉忠以什刹海东端为基准画出南北直线，确立了元大都的规划中轴线，为明清北京城乃至今天的中轴线格局奠定了骨架，影响深远。元代郭守敬引水通漕，使什刹海成为京杭大运河漕运终点，钟鼓楼一带因此繁华鼎盛。如今，什刹海既有恭王府、“银锭观山”等名胜，也保留胡同和市井生活气息，在中轴线文化带上以独特的水域与人文景观承载着老北京的记忆。"

This is Wanning Bridge, the northern end of Beijing’s Central Axis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

At first glance, it may look ordinary, but this stone bridge was once a key part of the Grand Canal, linking the city to its vast waterway system.

这里就是著名的世界文化遗产——北京中轴线的北终点，万宁桥。这座石桥有什么奥秘呢？

Wanning Bridge was once the vital gateway for grain transport ships entering the capital and an important landmark on Beijing’s Central Axis, serving as a reference point for urban planning since the Yuan capital of Dadu. The Chengqing Upper Sluice that remains here was one of the hydraulic facilities built by Guo Shoujing and was named by Kublai Khan. After several centuries, structural elements such as the sluice grooves are still preserved. The water-controlling stone beasts on both sides of the bridge embankment are also valuable works of stone carving art.

万宁桥曾是漕船入京的咽喉，是北京中轴线上的重要坐标，自元大都起便锚定了城市规划的基准。这里遗留下的澄清上闸是郭守敬建造的水利工程设施之一，由忽必烈赐名。历经数百年，仍然保存有闸槽等建筑构件。桥两侧堤岸的镇水兽，也是珍贵的石刻艺术品。

Here is a Taoist temple with the words “Fire God Temple” written on it. It seems to be very crowded with visitors! I wonder, what kind of wishes are they making?

这里有一座道观，上面写着这里是“火神庙”。看起来游人非常多，他们都怀着什么样的心愿呢？

The glazed tiles of this Fire God Temple are blue, which makes them very unique and beautiful. In ancient China, glazed tiles were reserved exclusively for imperial palaces, state-sanctioned temples, and the residences of high-ranking officials.

这座火神庙的琉璃瓦是蓝色的，非常独特好看。在中国古代，琉璃瓦只有皇家建筑、敕建庙宇、公卿府第才有资格用。

Shichahai is not just about historic landmarks — it’s also the perfect place to taste Beijing’s most iconic foods. Let’s go on a food hunt!

什刹海不仅是历史遗迹的所在地，它还是品味北京最具代表性的美食的地方。

Beijing’s street food culture is as rich and colorful as the city’s history. Among the most popular treats are various dairy products, which today have become visitors’ favorite refreshing desserts in summer. Besides yogurt, you can also find classic Beijing snacks such as douzhi, zhá guàncháng, and lǘdagun. Sitting by the water, enjoying the cool breeze while tasting these authentic flavors and watching the willows sway, both your taste buds and your heart are immersed in the unique charm of old Beijing’s waterside life and everyday vibrancy.

北京的街头小吃文化与这座城市的历史一样丰富多彩。最受欢迎的小吃之一就是各式奶制品，如今已成为游人夏日最爱的清凉甜品。除了奶酪，你还可以找到经典的北京小吃，如豆汁、炸灌肠、驴打滚……在水边吹着凉风，一边品尝这些地道风味，一边望着柳影婆娑，味蕾与心境都沉浸在老北京独有的水韵与烟火气之中。

What a fulfilling day! We started at Wanning Bridge, visited the historic Fire God Temple, and tasted authentic old Beijing cheese. Walking along the lively lakeside, seeing crowds of visitors, and experiencing local folk arts, I felt the pulse of everyday life here. Shichahai carries the memory and spirit of Beijing — every view is a living picture of the city’s vibrant soul."

真是丰富的一天。我们从万宁桥出发，探访了历史悠久的火神庙，还尝到了地道的老北京奶酪，走在热闹的岸边，看游人如织，体验非遗技艺，感受到了浓浓的市井气息。什刹海承载着北京城的记忆与生活，每一眼都是鲜活的人间烟火。

Since ancient times, humans have settled by water, and cities have been built along it. Both human life and urban development have always depended on water.

Shichahai once welcomed merchants and travelers, carried imperial grain boats, and was home to countless old Beijingers. Today, Shichahai is both ancient and modern, lively yet serene. With its endless charm, these waters carry the weight of history while embracing the future.

自古以来，人类逐水而居，城市沿水而建。不论是人的生活还是城市的发展，都离不开水。

什刹海曾停驻了商旅的脚步，开过皇家的漕船，曾是成千上万老北京人的家园。如今的什刹海既古老又现代，既热闹又清幽。这片水以它无限的魅力，承载历史，拥抱未来。

出品人：王晓辉

Executive Producer: Wang Xiaohui

总监制：薛立胜

Chief Supervisor: Xue Lisheng

总策划：蔚力

Chief Planner: Yu Li

制片：张芃芃

Producer: Zhang Pengpeng

策划：张芃芃 丁素云 曹川川 李颖

Creative Planning: Zhang Pengpeng, Ding Suyun, Cao Chuanchuan, Li Ying

导演：龚小磊

Director: Gong Xiaolei

撰稿：张芃芃

Screenwriter: Zhang Pengpeng

主持人：荣希玛 (Chaima El Moujradi) 劳拉 (Laura Ugalde) 德密柰 (Marina Dech)

Hosts: Chaima El Moujradi, Laura Ugalde, Marina Dech

摄像：李春浩 王恺琦

Cinematography: Li Chunhao, Wang Kaiqi

跟机：王俊胜

Camera Assistant: Wang Junsheng

剪辑：王恺琦 顾钧予 刘泽敖

Editing: Wang Kaiqi, Gu Junyu, Liu Zeao

调色：康凯

Color Grading: Kang Kai

混音：康凯

Sound Mixing: Kang Kai

推广：孟超 李昭 姜壹平 苏向东 丁素云 王雁青 葛蕾 秦金月 张静

Promotion: Meng Chao, Li Zhao, Jiang Yiping, Su Xiangdong, Ding Suyun, Wang Yanqing, Ge Lei, Qin Jinyue, Zhang Jing

节目承制：大音

Produced by: NEWSAYING (Shanghai) Consulting and Planning Co., Ltd.