It's as if you are walking into a scene one usually sees in regions south of the Yangtze River. Yet it is tucked away in the core of China's capital city.

The Sanlihe area of Beijing's Dongcheng district has added a unique water scene to its urban landscape. Green lawns, towering willows, red flowering plums and yellow forsythia blossoms line each side of a 900-meter-long river.

It's picture-perfect.

A few steps away is a cluster of traditional hutong buildings featuring gray tiles and walls.

Green stone slabs connect everything and allow visitors to meander through the area. Pavilions and stone benches emerge from here and there, offering people a place to rest.

It might be the best place to enjoy nature while savoring traditional Beijing.