Fangshan Restaurant (Beihai Park)

Fangshan Restaurant recreates Qing-dynasty imperial court cuisine on Qionghua Islet inside Beihai Park in Xicheng District, Beijing, China, founded in 1925 by chefs who had formerly cooked for the imperial palace kitchens. The restaurant's imperial court banquet set menu (¥688 per person) is the signature experience, moving through a sequence of dishes once reserved for Qing-dynasty royalty, including the pea flour cake known as wandouhuang and a braised bird's nest soup priced at market rate for special occasions. The dining rooms occupy a traditional lakeside building on the islet, with views over Beihai Lake, ornate imperial-style decor, and a formal, ceremonial atmosphere suited to banquets and celebratory meals rather than casual dining. Beverage offerings run to Chinese tea service and a modest selection of wine and spirits, secondary to the elaborate food program. Dress leans smart-casual to formal, and reservations are recommended, particularly for banquet-style set menus and lakeside rooms, which are popular for group celebrations and can book up during peak park visiting seasons. The setting inside Beihai Park makes it a natural pairing with a walk through the park's imperial gardens before or after the meal.