Best places to see spring flowers in Beijing

 

Spring is here, so are the flowers. Beijing is blooming beautiful right now!
Put a spring in your step and check out the blossoms in these best spring sweet spots in the city.

 

Xinhuamen 新华门

Xinhuamen, the “Gate of New China” built by Yuan Shikai, today the formal entrance to the Zhongnanhai compound. Some says that the Yulan Magnolias here are the first one to bloom.

Under the blue sky, with the red wall and clay tiles as the background, the Yulan Magnolia here bring you the atmosphere of the real Beijing while you cycling around.

 

Magnolia is an ancient genus. The Yulan Magnolia is native to central and eastern China. It has been very often cultivated in the buddhist temple gardens in China since 600 AD. It was also planted in the courtyards or the open fields within the Emperor’s palaces. Its flowers are regarded as a symbol of purity. The 10–16 cm white flowers are beautiful and thick with a citrus-lemon fragrance.

Blossom Time: March – Beginning of April
Address: No.174, W Chang’an St, Xicheng Dist.西城区西长安街174号

Dajue Temple 大觉寺

Dajue Temple is a one-thousand-year-old temple in the western suburbs of Beijing, a tranquil and ancient place.

The magnolia tree at the temple is said to be 300 years old. It was planted by a Buddhist monk named Jialing whom is Qianlong Emperor’s private doctor.

 

The magnolia flowers in Dajue Temple are exceptionally large, bright, elegant and fragrant. These eye-catching flowers surpass other magnolias in Beijing and draw crowds of tourists each spring. There is a tea house on the temple grounds where visitors can sip tea while appreciating the flowers.

Blossom Time: Mid – End of March

Opening Hour: 8:00 – 17:00

Ticket: RMB 20/ person

Address: No.9, Dajuesi Rd, Haidian Dist.海淀区大觉寺路9号

Summer Palace 颐和园

The lake at the Summer Palace is surrounded by the peach trees. It is the season when peach trees come into full bloom. You will get to see the view of the peach blossoms bloom over the hills, over vales, acres of peach trees parade acres of peach blossoms, radiant and sweet.

 

The peach is known as a species native to China. It was introduced to Persia and the Mediterranean region along the Silk Road before Christian times. The peach trees are in bloom in early spring, solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals. The peach often plays an important part in Chinese tradition and is symbolic of love.

Tip: Better arrive as early as possible because it will be very crowded after 10am.

Blossom Time: Now till May

Opening Hour: Apr – Oct: 6:30 -18:00; Nov – Mar: 7:00 – 17:00

Ticket: Apr – Oct: RMB 30/ person; Nov – Mar: RMB 20/ person

Address: No.19 Xinjiangongmen Rd, Haidian Dist. 北京市海淀区新建宫门路19号

Yu Yuantan 玉渊潭

Spring is the time to visit Yu Yuan Tan Park in Beijing for seeing a sea of cherry blossoms. The park has a “Cherry Blossom Garden” in its Western corner where more than 2000 trees of cherry blossoms are planted.

 

The park almost becomes a temple fair every year at flowering time. About 2,000 cherry trees were transplanted from Japan to China in the 1970s as a token of friendship between the two countries. There could be a lot of people, but you will find that it’s worth visiting when you view the stunning blossoms.

 

There are many entertainments in the park,which your kids may like. Use of these entertainment equipments is not included in the entrance ticket.

Blossom Time:

First stage: Early cherry blossoms: Late March, and only 7 days for appreciation.
Second stage: Late cherry blossoms: Mid April to Late April

Opening Hour: Jun – Aug 6:00 – 21:30; Apr, May, Sep – Nov: 6:00 – 20:30; Dec – Mar: 6:30 – 19:00

Ticket: RMB 2/ person; RMB 10/ person during cherry blossom period

Address: No.10 West Thrid Ring Middle Rd, Haidian Dist.海淀区西三环中路10号

Temple of Heaven 天坛

In the Temple of Heaven, there’s a garden that full of apricot flowers and were planted in Qing Dynasty. Also it’s the biggest place with the apricot flowers within fifth rings road. Sitting on the bench under the apricot trees make you feel like you are in the painting. But beware if it’s windy, the flowers are very easily to fell off!

 

The Chinese people often associate the apricot with education and medicine. For example, the classical word “Apricot Altar” which means “educational circle”, is still widely used in written language. About 2500 years ago, the greatest Chinese scholar – Confucius often taught his students among the wood of apricot used as a forum, hence “Apricot Altar”.

 

The flowers have five white to pinkish petals 2 – 4.5 cm in diameter; they are produced singly or in pairs in early spring. The fruit is a drupe likening to a small peach, 1.5 – 2.5 cm diameter from yellow to orange. The single seed is enclosed in a hard stony shell.

Blossom Time: Mid of March – End of May

Opening Hour: Apr – Oct: 8:00 – 17:30; Nov – Mar: 8:00 – 17:00

Ticket: Apr – Oct: RMB 15/ person; Nov – Mar: RMB10/ person

Address: No.1, E Tiantan Rd,Dongcheng Dist. 东城区天坛东路1号

Prince Gong’s Mansion 恭王府

Originally constructed for HeShen, known asthe most corrupt official in Chinese history, it was later renamed after Prince Gong, a Manchu prince and influential statesman of the late Qing Dynasty. The garden in Prince Gong’s Mansion is much beautiful than the one in Forbidden City!

 

You can get to see Chinese Flowering Crabapple, Lilac Flower, Apricot Flowers and Chinese redbud. And the best part is less crowded than any other place!

Blossom Time: End of March: Chinese Flowering Crabapple

Beginning of April: Chinese redbud

End of April: Lilac Flower

Opening Hour: 1st Apr – 31st Oct: 8:00 – 17:00; 1st Nov – 31st Mar: 9:00 – 16:00

Ticket: RMB 30/ person

Address: No.14, Liuyin St, Xicheng Dist. 西城区柳荫街甲14号

Beijing Zhongshan Park 中山公园

There are huge plots of tulips planted in Zhongshan Park. They line the paths. At this moment is the time to see chimonanthus fragrans and till late April to early May is the best time to witness the tulips in full bloom.

 

The first tulip bulbs were a gift from the Queen of the Netherlands during her visit in 1997 – 39 bulbs, to be exact. In addition to the tulips, there are also many other species of garden plants such as wisteria, bamboo, hyacinth, narcissus and peonies.

 

Blossom Time: End of March – Early May

Opening Hour: 7:00 – 18:00

Ticket: RMB 3/ person; RMB 10/ person during tulips exhibition

Address: No. 4 Zhonghua Rd, Dongcheng Dist. 东城区中华路4号

Yuan Dadu 元大都遗址公园

Chinese Flowering Crabapple at Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Site Park is one of the must see in Beijing during spring. More than 2000 of Chinese Flowering Crabapple trees are planted along the river side even the air smells so sweet.

 

Blossom Time: Mid of March – April

Opening Hour: Whole day

Ticket: Free

Address: E Jian’an Rd, Chaoyang Dist 朝阳区健安东路

Jingshan Park 景山公园

With a nickname of “heaven fragrance and national beauty”, Peony flowers are reputed as the most elegant and poised, the king of the flowers in China. Jingshan Park is famous for peonies.

 

The park has a display collection of more than 1,000 peonies of some 100 varieties. There is a peony exhibition each year in the park. Many varieties of peonies are displayed. Peonies have been displayed in Jingshan Park since the Yuan Dynasty(1271–1368).

Blossom Time: Early April – End of May

Opening Hour: Summer Time: 6:30 – 21:00; Winter Time: 6:30 – 20:00?

Ticket: RMB 2/ person; RMB 5/ person During the peonies exhibition

Address: No.44, W Jingshan St, Xicheng Dist.(Opposite to rear entrance of Forbidden City) 西城区景山西街44号（故宫后门对面）

Phoenix Ridge Scenic Area 凤凰岭

There are 99 acres of apricot trees planted in the park. From the hillside to the valley, the mountain is covered with a cloak of pink and white flowers. Since the park is large, youcan get away from the crowds when strolling among the flowers.

 

Blossom Time: End of March – End of April

Opening Hour: 6:00 – 17:30

Ticket: RMB 25/ person

Address: No.19, Fenghuangling Rd, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian Dist.海淀区苏家坨镇凤凰岭路19号