| Beijing Botanical Garden
With 3,000 different types of plants contained in a conservatory, the Beijing Botanical Gardens are set against the spectacular backdrop of the western hills. Enjoy the various themed gardens or seek out the varying bamboos, lilacs, lotuses, pines, roses, magnolias, cherries, peaches, crepe myrtles … the list goes on! Temples , memorials and a cemetery also form part of the botanical gardens. A divinely fragrant place to visit! Xiangshan Wofosi, Beijing. Telephone 6259 1283.
Fragrant Hills Park
Fragrant
Hills Park is 30 kilometres
northwest of the city.
Built in 1186 in the
Jin Dynasty and in 1745
Emperor Qianlong added
halls, pavilions and
gardens and renamed it
as Jingyi Garden. Due
to fire and war a lot
of the original works
have been destroyed.
In the autumn red leaves
cover the mountain. One
route to explore the
park is to take the north
route passing the Spectacles
Lake and Bright Temple
built in 1780 as the
residence for the sixth
Panchen Lama. The southern
route passes the Tranquility
Green Lake, Fragrant
Temple and the highest
peak the Incense Burner
Peak. The Shuangqing
Villa was once the residence
of Chairman Mao Zedong
and is in the park. Xishan
Hill, Haidian District
(6259 1155).
Beihai Park
Beihai Park
was the royal garden
of the Jin, Yuan, Ming
and Qing dynasties with
a lake and paddleboats
that can be rented. Behai
Park was originally home
to a Palace constructed
by Kublai Khan in the
13 th Century, all that
remains is the enormous
green jade Jar used for
his wine storage now
found in the Round City.
Jade Isle is across the
bridge from the Round
City and full of lotus
flowers in the summer.
At the foot of the hill
is Yong’an Temple
and at the top is the
White Dagoba erected
in 1651 in honour of
the Dalai Lama. Around
the Jade Isle is the
Painted Gallery verandah,
near where the boats
dock is the Hall of Rippling
Waters and the well known
Fangshan Restaurant.
The north side of the
Beihai is reached by
boat form the Five Dragon
Pavilion. 1
Wenjin St., Xicheng District
(6403 1102).
Coal Hill
Coal Hill
is a park with the Ten
Thousand Springs Pavilion
created using the soil
dug out to create the
moat for the Forbidden
City. In central Beijing stands Coal Hill, immediately to the north of the Forbidden City , and in the Xicheng District. Originally built in the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty from the dirt excavated from the moats of the Imperial Palace and canals, this 45 metre high artificial hill was an imperial garden known as Jingshan Park . Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty is said to have committed suicide there by hanging himself in 1644. 1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District (6404 4071)
Ditan Park
If you wish to experience some local culture, Ditan Park and the Temple of the Earth holds a traditional temple fair in spring at which you can see folk dancing and songs performed. The festival includes the sale of various arts and crafts and is a popular place to practice tai ji quan, or shadow boxing. Originally built in 1520 as a sacrificial altar to the earth god, the two-story worship terrace was off limits to ordinary citizens until 1911. The closest train stations are An Ding Men or Yong He Gong. A2 An Ding Men Wai Avenue, Beijing. 6421 4657.
Liuyin Park
Containing 17 hectares (seven of those being water), Liuyin Park is situated to the west of Andingmen Waidajie. Built to resemble the Chinese countryside, and possibly the only park in Beijing showing rural scenery, it holds thatched pavilions, willow trees, bamboo, lotus flowers and fruit trees. The centre of the lake contains an island on which wild ducks nest and birdlife is abundant. Squirrels, magpies and nightingales are also a regular attraction. Liuyin Park can easily be reached from Andingmen subway station (a 10 minute walk), or by using bus numbers 108 or 104 to Jiangzhaikou station. Jiangzhaikou, Andingmenwai, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 8413 1357.
Longtanhu Park
Also known as Dragon Pool Park , Longtanhu Park was opened in 1952 and is spread over almost half a square kilometre of land, nearly one third of which is taken up by the Dragon Pool Lake . The well landscaped gardens and lake shores provide a sense of tranquillity to the visitor, with its footbridges and carved dragons, together with open spaces, flowers and trees. It contains the Dragon Gate, the Flying Dragon Pavilion, the Green Dragon Bridge, badminton courts, roller skating and Beijing's reputedly tallest climbing wall. 8 Longtanhu Lu, Chongwen District. 6714 4336.
Qingnianhu Park
Have fun with all of the family at this aquatic park. Containing a huge twin pool area, manned by lifeguards and with first aid equipment at the ready, the park has 11 water slides and various kiddies' recreational facilities including bumper cars. It also contains a split-level driving range for the golfers. Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District (8413
2757).
Ritan Park
Located in Beijing 's central business district, north of Yongangli and Jianguomen subway stations, is Ritan Park and the Temple of the Sun. Dating back to the 16 th century, the emperor made sacrificial offerings to his sun god on the altar. Today, though, it is a beautiful green space containing facilities for children such as trampolines, a merry-go-round, a fishing pond, mini golf and also various food outlets and bars for the adults. Ritan Park, 6 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang. 8561 6301.
Taoranting Park
Taoranting Park is in the south of the city with a lake and pavilions.
Tiantan Park
Tiantan Park is more than just a park as it contains the Temple of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Amongst Beijing 's finest buildings, the Hall is 38 metres high and almost 30 metres in diameter and was built without the use of a single nail. Located a good 25 minute walk from the Chong wen Men subway station, it is probably best to take a cab to get there. Tiantan Park (Temple of Heaven ), Yongdingmen Dajie, Chongwen District. 6702 8866.
Tuanjiehu Park
Inside
the park is a water park
with a beach and wave
along with a roller skating
park. 16 Tuanjiehu
Nanli, Chaoyang District
(8597 3603).
Yuyuantan Park
Yuyuantan Park is a great place to take children in Beijing . Centred around a lake, it has an aquatic park, lots of child-friendly entertainment and you can hire bicycles there. In April each year, Yuyuantan Park is host to a cherry blossom festival showcasing its beautiful cherry and magnolia blossoms. Its 136 hectares contain over 2,000 different types of trees.
Located west of Tiananmen Square at the southern end of Sanlihe Road, China 's CCTV Tower stands at the east gate of the park. A further 200 metres to the south of the park is the China Millennium Monument . Parking is not available, so it's best to get there by bus, taxi or subway. When you're ready to leave, you can catch a boat along the canal to the Summer Palace from close to the park's south gate. Xisanhuan Road (near CCTV Tower ), Haidian District. 8865 3804/6.
Zizhuyuan Park
Explore
the canals and lakes
by boat or ice chair
and plenty of bamboo.
45 Baishiqiao
Lu, Haidian District
(6842 5851).
Zhongshan Park
A formal
park with a Sun Yat-sen
statue, bamboo groves,
covered walkways. Boats
and iced chairs can be
rented to travel along
the Forbidden City’s
moat. Tian’anmen
Gate (6605 5431).
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