Quick Walk Overview

Start: Liangma Qiao Station 亮马桥站 (Exit D), Subway Line 10
End: Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park (蓝色港湾 / SOLANA)
Distance: Approx. 2.8 km
Walking Time: About 2 hours with photo stops
Best Time: Morning or late afternoon
Surface: Flat paved riverside paths and city sidewalks
Crowd Level: Generally quiet, not crowded on weekdays

We started this Riverside Walk from Liangma River to Solana in Chaoyang in the afternoon of June 7, 2026. I took Subway Line 10 and got off at Liangma Qiao Station, Exit D. The air felt light when I came up to street level — already warm, but still comfortable enough for walking without any rush.

The temperature that day stayed between 14°C and 24°C, which made the walk especially easy. No need to pause or escape the heat — just a steady, comfortable movement along the water.

We followed the Liangma River path slowly, staying close to the water whenever possible. The walking pace naturally became unhurried here.

By the end of the route, we reached Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park at the edge of Chaoyang Park. The transition from riverside walkway into the open retail square felt gradual rather than abrupt. We ended the walk with dinner at a waterside Thai restaurant inside Solana.

Why I Walked This Route

I like water, I like rivers. A place with water always feels a bit more alive. I often think cities are remembered through their rivers. London has the Thames, Paris has the Seine, Ottawa has the Rideau Canal.

Beijing has Liangma River.

Walking Route Map: Liangma River to Solana

This stretch of Chaoyang feels different from the older parts of the city. It’s energetic, almost forward-leaning. If Beijing’s hutongs represent memory and old rhythm, then Liangma River feels like a newer layer of the city, more open, more connected outward, showing a different side of Beijing.

Walking here, I like how everything is close but not crowded — office buildings, restaurants, hotels, small groups of people eating, talking, resting. Different pieces of city life sitting side by side along the water.

In the evening, the lights along Liangma River change the whole feeling. Reflections on the water become softer, a bit unreal. I’ve seen people taking boat rides at night as well, moving slowly through the lit-up river corridor, passing restaurants and bridges glowing on both sides. From the bank, it already feels calm; from the water, I imagine it must feel even more suspended.

This is why I come back to this route. Not for a destination, but for the way the river quietly connects everything in between.

Step-by-Step Walking Route

Step 1: Yansha Bridge → Sanlitun Bridge → Yansha Bridge (U-turn loop)

Distance: Approx. 1,600–1,700 meters
Walking Time: About 30–40 minutes

We left Liangma Qiao Station Exit D and walked south for a short stretch, roughly 150–200 meters, until the river opened up in front of us at Yansha Bridge. The Third Ring Road runs above it, and the traffic sound briefly changes the rhythm of the river below.

We left Liangma Qiao Station Exit D

Liangma River International Riverside Greenway

From there, we entered the Liangma River International Riverside Greenway (亮马河国际风情水岸绿道) on the north bank and walked west. The path is wide and clean here, with water always within sight. After a while, we crossed over at Sanlitun Bridge and moved to the southern bank.

A full panoramic view of Liangma River from the west side of Yansha Bridge

On the south side, we continued along the riverside path heading east again, forming a slow loop along the water — a natural U-turn that brings you back toward Yansha Bridge. The full loop along this section feels close to 1.6 km, give or take, depending on how much you stop.

Water activity zone at Liangma River

This part of the river feels very active. I noticed immediately it is a water activity zone. Along the bank, there are small geometric docks and rental stations offering different water activities: kayaks, paddle boards, backpack boats, inflatable rafts, and small canoes.

Kayaks, paddle boards, inflatable boats — and a dog riding a paddle board

It was a Sunday when we walked here, and the whole area felt busy in a relaxed way. Not crowded in a stressful sense, but full of movement. Locals and foreign visitors mixed together, mostly younger people, drifting between the river and the seating areas.

Retired residents playing music together

Near the water, I also saw a small group of retired residents playing music together — informal, unpolished, just performing for themselves and whoever happened to stop.

Retired residents playing music together

The scene felt light and a bit spontaneous. It made me think how rare it is to have public space where different ages naturally overlap like this.

At one point, I paused at a rental dock to look at the prices written on the board:

• Kayak: 169 RMB / hour (single)
• Double kayak: 209 RMB / hour
• Inflatable boat: around 269 RMB (for 2–3 people)

Out on the river, the colors of the water activities stand out more than expected — small bright shapes moving slowly across the surface, breaking the green and blue reflections of the water.

People swimming in the river,

I even saw a few people swimming in the river, mostly older residents. It felt unexpected but not out of place, like they had their own familiarity with this water.

Swimmers preparing to enter the Liangma River

Both sides of the river are lined with trees and tall buildings. The walkway here is wide, and people walk in small groups or alone, each in their own pace. It doesn’t feel like a tourist route — more like a shared city space that people actually use.

The walkway here is wide, and people walk in small groups or alone, each in their own pace

On the north side of this section, large hotels and office building stand out quietly. They sit behind the trees, visible in fragments between branches and reflections.

Large hotels and office towers quietly line the riverbank

When we reached Yansha Bridge again, we crossed back over. There is no continuous riverside path directly under the bridge, so we had to go up and cross over it before returning to the southern riverside greenway.

From there, the walk continues again along the water.

Step 2: Walking from Yansha Bridge to Maijia Bridge

Distance: Approx. 600 meters
Walking Time: About 20–30 minutes with photo stops

From Yansha Bridge, the riverside atmosphere shifts almost immediately. This stretch toward Maijia Bridge is only about 600 meters, but it feels like a different layer of Liangma River.

The River Slows Down Here

The first thing I notice is the silence. Compared to the earlier section with kayaks, swimmers, and activity on the water, here everything slows down. No rentals, no movement on the surface, no noise from docks. Just the river, steady and open.

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Yansha Center, lotus and lily flowers, with willow trees reaching over the water — a quiet scene.

The view feels more framed here. Tall buildings stand on both sides, but they feel slightly further away, softened by trees and water reflections. The river itself becomes more visible again.

On the surface, I start seeing lotus leaves and water lilies. Some are fully open, some still unfolding. They sit quietly on the water without drawing attention to themselves, but once you notice them, they stay in your view.

Hotels and Office Towers Along the River

On the north side, two large hotels come into sight: Kempinski Hotel Beijing Yansha Center and Four Seasons Hotel Beijing. They sit behind the riverside trees, partially hidden, partially revealed depending on where you walk.

Four Seasons Hotel Beijing in the background, with people fishing along the riverbank

I remember hearing that visiting heads of state have stayed at the Four Seasons during official trips, but from the river path, it just appears as another quiet building behind green layers.

People fishing quietly by the river

Along this stretch, I also see a few people fishing.

They are spaced out, sitting still at the edge of the bank. No conversation, no movement that stands out.

People fishing quietly by the river

Just waiting. The rhythm here is very different from the water activity zone earlier — slower, more inward.

A few riverside restaurants with outdoor seating

As we continue east, the riverside opens slightly into a small dining area. A row of restaurants appears, with outdoor seating and light-colored sun umbrellas (太阳伞) facing the water. Some tables are placed right near the river, others set back along the walkway.

Riverside restaurants with outdoor seating

We don’t stop here for long. We had already decided to have dinner at Solana, so we just pass through, observing briefly as people sit by the water, eating, talking, and watching the river go by.

The outdoor seating and light-colored sun umbrellas facing the water

This section of Liangma River feels especially balanced. Clean, quiet, and composed. Not empty, but not busy either. A slower pace settles in here naturally, and the walk becomes more about moving through space than arriving anywhere.

I remember thinking this is the kind of riverside that works best for unhurried days — when you don’t need much, just light movement, open water, and time passing without interruption.

Step 4: Dinner at Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park

We finally arrived at Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park. At the main entrance, a two-story Starbucks stands right by the gate, already filled with people sitting upstairs by the windows and downstairs near the entrance.

Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park Main Entrance

The whole area feels busy in a relaxed way. On this weekend evening, both local visitors and foreign residents are here. The mix is very visible — families walking slowly, groups of friends taking photos, people moving in and out of restaurants without rushing.

Solana – Western-style shopping district inside Beijing

Almost every direction leads to international food. Italian, Japanese, Western cafés, Asian fusion — it all gathers here in one open loop around the water. If you didn’t know where you were, it could feel like a small pocket of a Western-style shopping district inside Beijing.

We didn’t stop long at the entrance. Instead, we walked toward the southern side of Solana and chose a Thai restaurant called Grand Bazaar (蘭棠) .Located by the water next to Chaoyang Park.

Dinner at Thai restaurant called Solana – Western-style shopping district inside Beijing

The seating area for Grand Bazaar (蘭棠) is arranged in two or three rows under canopies. The tables closest to the water are already fully booked, so we take a table slightly back, closer to the walkway.

Grand Bazaar (蘭棠) Restaurant

From here, the view still opens up. People are kayaking on the lake nearby, moving slowly across the water. In the distance, China Zun Tower stands quietly above the skyline — a sharp vertical line against the evening light.

China Zun Tower stands quietly in the green backdrop

Everything around feels green and reflective. Trees, water, and soft lighting all blend together. The pace here is slower than it looks at first glance.

Shrimp salad at Grand Bazaar

We ordered a few simple dishes: stir-fried water spinach, vegetable and shrimp salad, pork, and grilled perch. The Thai-style seasoning is light but slightly spicy, fitting the warm evening atmosphere.

Liangma River at night

After dinner, there is also the option to take a boat ride on the lake and continue into Liangma River at night. I imagine the bridges along the river fully lit up, reflections stretching across the water, turning the whole route into something softer and almost unreal.

Liangma River Night Cruise

From the riverside, the lights already begin to change the mood. The walk that started at Liangma River quietly seems to extend into the evening — without needing to rush anywhere.

A Few Small Notes From the Riverside Walk from Liangma River to Solana

• This Riverside Walk from Liangma River to Solana works best in the afternoon into early evening, when the light softens along the river and people start to settle into slower movement.
• Weekends feel more active, especially around the water activity section near Yansha Bridge. If you prefer quiet observation, weekdays are noticeably calmer.
• The riverside path is continuous in most sections, but there are a few bridge crossings where you need to go up and over, especially near Yansha Bridge.
• If you want photos of water activities, that section between Yansha Bridge and Sanlitun Bridge has the most movement and color on the water.
• For quieter reflections, lotus plants, and slower pacing, the stretch toward Maijia Bridge feels more still and balanced.
• Solana gets busy in the evening. Restaurant tables near the water are often reserved in advance.
• Boat rides are available near Solana and continue into the Liangma River area at night if you want to extend the walk visually rather than on foot.

About the Author

 Ruqin is the founder of Ruqintravel.com and has decades of experience in China’s travel industry. Drawing on hands-on work across major destinations throughout the country, he personally researches and updates each guide to help international travelers explore China with confidence.

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