{"id":54378,"date":"2025-06-03T18:50:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/a-day-by-the-liangma-river-where-beijing-slows-down-and-shows-its-gentle-side\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T18:40:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:40:04","slug":"a-day-by-the-liangma-river-where-beijing-slows-down-and-shows-its-gentle-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/a-day-by-the-liangma-river-where-beijing-slows-down-and-shows-its-gentle-side\/","title":{"rendered":"A day by the Liangma River: Where Beijing slows down and shows its gentle side"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>My journey followed the path of the Liangma River Cultural and Economic Belt, where water, culture, and daily life come together to reveal a calmer rhythm of the city.<\/p>\n<p>It started at the river itself. I stepped off the bus and onto a boat, one of many that now glide along what used to be a royal site for washing horses. Today, the Liangma River has become a symbol of how old places can find new life.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88629 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/restored_wooden_beams_and_antique_doors_at_the_mansion_offer_a_rare_glimpse_into_beijing_s_imperial_past.jpg\" alt=\"Restored wooden beams and antique doors at the mansion offer a rare glimpse into Beijing\u2019s imperial past.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>As the boat moved gently under bridges and past gardens, our guide shared stories of the river. One bridge came alive with glowing images of dragons and phoenixes; another is said to bring good luck to couples who propose there. Listening to these stories while watching the water shimmer in the sunlight gave the whole ride a feeling of quiet wonder.<\/p>\n<p>We soon arrived at Solana Blue Harbour, and walking into its cobbled paths felt like stepping into a small Mediterranean town. With its rooftops, peaceful plazas, and lakeside caf\u00e9s, Blue Harbour is more than a shopping spot\u2014it\u2019s a place to relax, take photos, or simply enjoy the moment. Since teaming up with Ant Group in 2024, it\u2019s also become easier for international visitors, thanks to multilingual staff and smooth mobile payments.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88627 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/early_morning_light_dances_on_the_surface_of_the_liangma_river_setting_the_tone_for_a_reflective_journey.jpg\" alt=\"Early morning light dances on the surface of the Liangma River, setting the tone for a reflective journey.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>After a quick ride, I found myself at Pop Mart\u2019s Pop Land, a place full of colour, music, and imagination. Pop Mart is known around the world for its designer toys and creative experiences, and this park brings all of that to life.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88628 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pop_mart_s_pop_land_bursts_with_colorful_installations_drawing_fans_of_all_ages_into_a_whimsical_universe.jpg\" alt=\"Pop Mart\u2019s Pop Land bursts with colorful installations, drawing fans of all ages into a whimsical universe.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Everywhere I looked, families and young people were smiling, taking photos with their favourite characters, and exploring themed zones filled with games and surprises. It felt like a space where anyone could reconnect with their inner child or discover something new.<\/p>\n<p>As the sun began to dip, my final stop brought me back in time: Prince Shuncheng Mansion, a Qing Dynasty home now restored beside Chaoyang Park. Compared to the lively energy of the day, this place was calm and grounded.<\/p>\n<p>In the courtyard, soft music floated through the air. Women in traditional hanfu moved gracefully to the rhythm of ancient melodies. A tea master invited guests to taste freshly brewed tea known as oolong, among others, each step part of a quiet ritual. Once a royal residence, the mansion now serves as a space where visitors can step into history, not just read about it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88630 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/women_dressed_in_elegant_hanfu_perform_traditional_dances_evoking_the_grace_of_the_qing_dynasty.jpg\" alt=\"Women dressed in elegant hanfu perform traditional dances, evoking the grace of the Qing Dynasty.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>By the end of the day, I felt like I had walked through different chapters of Beijing, each with its own mood and meaning. In a place often described by traffic and technology, I found something else: a day of connection, reflection, and discovery. And maybe, somewhere along this river, there\u2019s a piece of Beijing waiting for everyone.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-88626 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/each_corner_of_pop_land_offers_instagram-worthy_backdrops_and_a_chance_to_reconnect_with_your_inner_child.jpg\" alt=\"Each corner of Pop Land offers Instagram-worthy backdrops and a chance to reconnect with your inner child.\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On a warm spring morning in Beijing, with the sun casting a gentle light and temperatures sitting around 28 degrees Celsius, I set out to experience a quieter, more thoughtful side of China\u2019s capital, one that often hides behind the tall towers and busy streets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000088633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[75],"byline":[2252],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-54378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-homenews","byline-christian-mugisha"],"bylines":[{"id":2252,"name":"Christian Mugisha","slug":"christian-mugisha","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":2252,"name":"Christian Mugisha","slug":"christian-mugisha","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":{"id":2000088633,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/the_liangma_river_once_used_by_royalty_to_wash_horses_now_welcomes_city_dwellers_in_search_of_quiet.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000088633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54378"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=54378"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=54378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}