A relaxing retreat close to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, most of this huge and refreshing park is taken up by Beihai Lake which hosts ice skaters in the winter and pedal boats during the other seasons. Located on the site of a 10th-century palace, many of the structures in the park are reconstructions of originals dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Beihai Park is notable for the Round City, a palace established by the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan (1214-94). At the heart of Beihai Lake is the Qiong Island, a manmade hill that affords panoramic views over the Forbidden City. At the summit of the hill you will find the White Dagoba Buddhist stupa built under the direction of the then Dali Lama when he visited Beijing in the 17th century.

Located by the Temple of Heaven Park, these tennis courts are employed for most major tennis tournaments in the city. With a nice clubhouse and changing rooms, it is quite surprising that non-members can enjoy these facilities at such a reasonable price. Racquets and balls can be rented. Players must wear proper tennis attire.

CHAOYANG DISTRICT. Close to the business zone of the city, this lush park has plenty of restaurants and cafes to relax at and is particularly popular on summer days. You'll also find the Temple of the Sun here. Built in 1530, it once served as an altar where the emperor conducted annual sacrificial rites. Nowadays, Ritan is good for walking, jogging and tai-chi; it has a rock-climbing wall, fishponds, a pedal-powered monorail, kite-flying and a bonsai market.

XICHENG DISTRICT. Houhai Lake is situated north of the Forbidden City and makes for a lovely walk or cycle from Tiananmen Square to Beihai Park to Houhai Lake. The tree-lined, rutted lakeside pathway is a bustle of hutong life and color: students heading for class, street traders, fruit sellers, cafes and throngs of cyclists. In the evenings, Houhai is a buzz of activity with some trendy bars and high-end restaurants. The area is known colloquially as the "Back Lakes" or locally as "Shichahai."

A lovely day outside the city can be spent at this exquisite palace where the later Qing rulers (notably, the Dowager Empress Cixi) relaxed in idyllic splendor while their empire collapsed around them. Built from 1749 to 1764, the Summer Palace is set around the lush Kunming Lake and is a popular spot for Beijingers to get some fresh air. Interestingly, there is now a boat service via canal to the palace from Beizhan Houhu Matou (phone 8836 3576). Ideal for a family day out or a picnic.