Shichahai consists of the following three lakes: Qianhai (前海), Xihai (西海) and Houhai (后海).
From the time of the Yuan Dynasty it was the northernmost part of the Grand Canal linking Hangzhou in the south to Beijing in the North of China.
Around the lake there are ten famous Taoist and Buddhist temples and several formal royal mansions and gardens.
Shichahai is a famous scenic spot in Beijing, and it is near the north-gate of the Beihai Park.
In 1992, the municipal government of Beijing declared it as a "Historical and Cultural Scenic Area".