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What do you do to beat the heat of Beijing's hot summer days and nights? Maybe making a big splash is your idea of a cool solution. If so, head for any of the area's naturally beautiful scenic spots, or one of its man-made water wonders:
* Wade in ankle-deep water in a crystal-clear brook rushing along a mountainside.
* Take out a motorboat and skim the waves of a lake or river.
* Stroll a sandy beach and play tag with the surging surf.
* Join a diving club and get to know the underwater world, up close and personal.
* Visit a swim-gym, a gymnasium with a swimming pool and instructors, where you can polish your swimming skills.
Check out our menu of chilled delights and select the one that's right for you.
Lianhua Lake
This artificially created lake, covering 58 hectares and boasting 1.3 million cubic meters of water, rivals any natural scenic spot around. Located in Yanqing County, it's perfect sand beach is an ideal place for summer entertainment -- strolling, sunbathing, beach parties.
Two large Dragon Boats (each can hold 22 people) ply the lake's waters, and many smaller crafts are available for lease. If you feel a need for speed, take the helm of a motorboat. If you're looking for a quiet spot where you can contemplate the season, check out the lake's fishing area. want to enjoy the quietness, you can have a good time at the fishing area,
* Ticket: 5 RMB
* Fishing tackle, swimming gear and small boats can be rented
* Take Bus No. 919 from Deshengmen; you don't change buses and will arrive within one and a half hours
* Tel: 6914-4646
Yanqi Lake
 If you can't satisfy your water-fun jones at Yanqi Lake there's just no satisfying you. Yanqi provides more than 20 different kinds of water recreational activities.
Gaily-painted Dragon Boats tour the lake, and small boats, powered by hand- or foot-paddles, are available for families ... and lovers. And there are motorboats you can take out yourself, exploring the lake and all its scenery on your own.
However, if you're keen for sport and brave enough, you might want to go for a little more excitement -- "flying on the water," or parasailing. Fitted out with a parachute and holding onto a tow-rope like the ones used for water-skiing, you'll be pulled by a motorboat, ascending quickly, then soaring up and down across the sky. Your height and speed will be determined by the motorboat's skipper, but you're guaranteed a wild ride and a great view. With the sky above and the water below, you may get that feeling Jack was trying to share with Rose when he held her on the prow of the Titanic, Yanqi Lake also offers a swimming beach, artificial sand beach and fishing area. If it can be done on the water, you'll find it at Yanqi.
* Ticket: 16 RMB
* Take Bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 6 from Xuanwumen or Dongsishitiao, or take the train from Xizhimen
Jinhai Lake
Jinhai Lake used to be the third biggest reservoir in Beijing. The wide expanse of water provides tourists with a wealth of water-borne activities. Enjoy the lake aboard a water bicycle or motorboat, or head to the water slide, swimming beach or fishing area.
* Ticket: 5 RMB
Motorboat: 40 RMB, Self-driven Motorboat: 6 RMB/m Small boat: 16 RMB/h,
Sailboat: 60 RMB/h Canoe: 40 RMB/h , pneumatic boat: 80 RMB/h , Swimming:
10 RMB for each person
* Take Bus No. 918 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 14 from Dongdaqiao or Zhanlanlu
Beijing Green Holiday Village
Located beside the Chaobaihe River, this holiday village offers such special activities as sand sliding, beach volleyball and beach football. You can enjoy the pleasure of being at the seaside without a care in the world.
* Ticket: 10 RMB
Motorboat: 30 RMB, Boat, Raft: 20 RMB/h , Beach football: 20 RMB for place fare
Beach volleyball: 20 RMB for place fare
Sand Sliding: 3 RMB for each time
* Take Bus No. 923 from Dongzhimen; one hour will be needed
Lakeview Waterpark
 One of the largest theme parks in China, Lakeview Waterpark occupies 100,000 square meters of land beside beautiful Yanqi Lake at Huairou. It was designed by Whitewater West Industries Ltd., which also designed the Disney Water Adventures in the United States.
The park provides water fun and excitement for the whole family as well as individuals. This new international water park includes:
* Grenada Surf Beach (Wave Pool) --- You can enjoy water fun in the 3,000 square-meter water pool with its eight wave moods; its crystal clear water must be the most refreshing experience possible in the hot sunshine.
* Jamaica Body Slide --- The 140-meter long and 14-meter high slide can bring you a sense of excitement and challenge.
* Bahamas Mamas Tube Slide --- At 160 meters long and 18 meters high, this two-person-at-a-time slide offers double the thrills.
* Amazon Lazy River --- An amazing place where you can laze back in a colorful tube, floating through waterfalls and the jungles of the Amazon.
* Caribbean Interactive Island --- Surrounded by the Amazon Lazy River, this haven provides you with an Interactive Pool, Tots Play Pool, Spa and Vortex pools, all especially designed for kids and families.
Lakeview Waterpark will make you feel like you are in the Caribbean instead of China. If you want to have a cool time this hot summer, don't hesitate; head for here.
* Ticket(yuan): 80 (adults), 60 (children); during holidays 120 (adults), 80 (children)
* Take Bus No. 916 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist Bus No. 6 at Xuanwumenor Dongsishitiao, or take the train from Xizhimen.
Diving Clubs
Beijing MTD Diving Club
MTD Diving Club is the Beijing Branch of the China International Diving Club. The club offers diving instruction, physical training and examination for license, as well as underwater fun.
There are three different training courses, and one is sure to be just what your skills and experience level requires.
* Junior Course: Learn the basic knowledge needed to be a diver.
* Senior Course: Trained to reach the international level of certification, under the guidance of a coach with international star level qualifications, while you apply for CMAS licensing.
* Introductory Course: For curious people, who don't even know how to swim, but think they might like diving.
 All the club's diving equipment is SCUBAPRO, among the best quality available. There is no need to worry about your safety.
If you have already your diving license and become a member of the club, the club will work out a diving plan for you, providing about 15 diving activities in a year. You can also join the club's salon every weekend, and meet new friends who share your interests. If you are not a member of the club but are interested in diving, you can also join their diving activities.
* Diving Introductory Course: 80 RMB/2h
Junior Course: 280 RMB for tuition and 150 RMB for diving check. Senior Course: 1000 RMB for tuition and 600 RMB for diving check.
* Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 19:00 to 21:00
* Address for training: Swimming Gymnasium of Lido Garden
* Time to sign up: Monday to Friday
* Address for signing up: Liu Xiang Xie, Liuyin Park, 8 Huangsi Street, Dongcheng District.
Long Yuan International Diving Club
A professional diving club, Long Yuan International Diving Club is a member of the World Diving Association. The club shows visitors an underwater world where they can search for health and happiness.
If you have no diving experience, the club's diving coach will teach you diving physiology and diving physics that meet the international star level as well as CMAS standard. Safety is stressed; all lessons include instruction on how to save yourself if you get in a tight spot, and how to save your diving buddies.
If you are not able to swim at all, the coach will teach you some basic swimming skills at the same time. When you are skillful enough to pass the examination, you will get a license issued by the International Diving Association. With the license, you can dive not only in China, but around the world.
The club often organizes trips for diving fans to San Ya, Da Lian, Yan Tai and Qing Dao, and they'll be happy to tell you how you can join them. The club has recently entered into a co-operative program with Ying Dong Swimming Gymnasium, and provides learning programs.
* Diving Learning 1200 RMB (learn all you need to know in 16 hours)
Diving Check 860 RMB (including one open-water dive)
Diving for Fun 160 RMB (one bottle of air)
* Hours: Monday to Sunday, 14:00 to 21:00
* Add: Ying Dong Swimming Gymnasium, or the Swimming Center of the Friendship Hotel
Swimming Gymnasiums Ying Dong Swimming Gymnasium
* Time: Monday-Friday, 12:00-24:00 Saturday-Sunday, 10:00-24:00
* Add: 1 Andinglu Anwai
* Area: 38000 square meters
* Size: 50mx25m, 50mx12.5m, 12mx9m , 25mx25m * Depth: 3m, 1.5m, 1.2m, 5.5m
* Temperature: 26-28 degrees centigrade
* Price: 30 RMB/2h
* Certified lifeguards: 10
* Provide warm water for bath, free of charge Hai Dian Swimming Gymnasium|
* Time: Monday-Friday, 12:00-16:00, 17:00-24:00 Saturday-Sunday, 12:00-24:00
* Add: 15 Xiyuancaochang Haidiannanzhen
* Size: 25mx16m
* Depth: 1.9-2.1m
* Temperature: 27-28 degrees centigrade
* Price: 30 RMB/ 1.5h
* Certified lifeguards: 4
* Provide warm water for bath, free of charge; children are not charged on
Saturday and Sunday Yue Tan Swimming Gymnasium
* Time: 6:30-8:30, 12:00-14:00, 20:00-22:00
* Add: A1 Yuetannanjie
* Size: 25mx20m
* Depth: 1.6m
* Temperature: 26-27 degrees centigrade
* Price: 10 RMB/2h
* Certified lifeguards: 7
* Provide warm water for bath, free of charge | 
