A Celebration of Spring - Best Places to see spring flowers in Beijing
A spring visit to China’s capital would not be complete without seeing the spring flowers. The best way to celebrate the flowers of spring is to head out to a park or garden for a stroll or a picnic. Here is the guide to some of best places in Beijing where you can enjoy the beauty of spring blooms.
2009 20th Cherry Blossom Festival @ Yuyuantan Park
Cherry blossom (Japanese name: Sakura) is the most famous attraction of Yuyuantan park, which received its first 180 cherry saplings from the Japanese premier when China established diplomatic relationship with Japan 30 years ago. Today the park's lake is surrounded by more than 2,000 oriental cherry trees of over 20 species. The park is also a hit with families thanks to the two huge play areas. Nearby attractions include the China Millennium Monument, about 200 meters south of the park, and the 405-metre-high CCTV Tower at the west gate of the park.
Address: 10 Xisanhuan ZhongLu, (across from CCTV Tower). East entrance on Sanlihe Lu (just south of Diaoyutai); south entrance (with parking lot) behind China Millennium Monument, Haidian district, Beijing Blossom Time: March 22 – April 30 Admission: 10 yuan Opening Hours: 6am-9:30pm daily Tel: 010- 8865-3804/6 Transportation: Subway Line 1 or 9 at military museum (Junshibowuguan). The park is about 500 meters northwest of the station.
Yulan Magnolia at south side of Zhongnanhai, Dajue Temple and Tanzhe Temple
1)By the south wall of Zhongnanhai, just west of the Tiananmen Square on the Changan Avenue.
Blossom Time: End of March Admission: Free
2)Beijing's Oldest Magnolia at Dajue Temple (the Temple of Enlightenment)
The Yulan magnolia tree at the Minghui Teahouse in a Dajue Temple yard is said to be 300 years old. The best time to view it is early April, when its luxurious blossoms both provide a canopy and carpet the courtyard - a pleasure enhanced by experts ceremoniously serving tea. The Temple contains a thousand-year-old gingko tree. known as the King of ginkgo trees, that towers 25 meters (82 feet). The temple and teahouse also offer lodgings with basic facilities or a presidential suite. Location: Twenty miles northwest of Beijing, about 15 minutes drive from the Summer Palace.
Blossom Time: April 2-9 Temple Admission: 20 yuan; teahouse entrance free Open: 8am-5pm Bus route: No. 346 or 903
Tanzhe Temple, with a longer history than Beijing, is virtually awash in purple magnolia blossom at this time of year. The area's greenery too is spectacular, especially when its fruit trees blossom. The Tanzhe compound contains an ancient gingko, known as the emperor's tree, that towers 30 meters (98 feet). Supposedly it was planted during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).
Blossom Time: Early April – Early May Open: 8am-6pm Phone:010-6086-2505, 010-6086-2244 Getting there: you can take the subway line 1 to the Pingguoyuan stop and take bus 931 (daily 7am-5:30pm, about every 30 min.; 1-hr. trip) to the last stop for Tanzhe Temple.
The Botanical Garden's annual flower festival is always a huge draw for the public and tourists, not least because sheer size of the garden makes it a good choice for one-day family trippers. Peach trees abound, both in the various gardens and the valley beyond if you fancy a walk into the hills. If you need a break during your visit, the Sleeping Buddha Temple provides a relaxing atmosphere.
Address: Xianshan Nanlu, Haidian District, Beijing Blossom Time: March 22 – May 11 Admission: 10 yuan Open: 6am-8pm Tel: 010-6259-1561
Lilac flowers at Fayuan Temple, Jietai Temple and Temple of Heaven
1) Fayuan Temple, located in Fayuansi qianjie, Xuanwu District of Beijing, is the oldest existing temple in Beijing. Covering an area of 6,700 square meters, it was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) by Li Shimin (Tang Emperor Taizong) to commemorate officers and soldiers dead in battles. The most spectacular time to visit the Fayuan Temple is April, when the hundreds of lilac bushes that surround the temple are in bloom. Blossom Time: Mid April – Early May
Address: 7 Fayuansi Qianjie (walk west down Nanheng Xijie and the temple is just off the main road halfway down), Nanheng Xijie, Xuanwu District, Beijing Opening: 8.30-11am, 1.30-4pm Mon, Tue, Thur-Sun Transportation: Subway Line 1 or 4 at xuanwumen (exit D1) Phone: 010- 6353-4171 Admission: RMB 5
2) Jietai Temple, known as the Temple of the Ordination Altar in Mentougou District in western Beijing, takes its name from its Ming period marble ordination altar. The temple is well known for its cloves. Most of the flowers here are white in color Blossom Time: April 15 – May 15 Admission: 35 yuan Open: 8am-6pm Tel: 010-6980-6611; 6980-2645
A traditional floral symbol of China, peony is known in China as Mudan (牡丹).Peonies in Luoyang are often said to be the finest in the country. Immediately north of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park boasts the biggest peony garden in Beijing with around 150 varieties.
Blossom Time: April 18 – Mid May Admission: 5 Yuan Tel: 010-64038305 Bus routes: No.5 at Jingshan West Street; No. 58, 60 or 111 at Jingshan East Street; No. 101, 103, 103(express), 109, 812 or 814 at the Forbidden City.
Chinese Flowering Crabapple at Prince Gong's Mansion and Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park
The park is about 9 kilometers long extending across Haidian and Chaoyang districts from west to east. It is the longest linear park in Beijing. The north section is the city wall protection area and the south section is the plantation area with flowers, trees and grass scattered with pavilions, sculptures and murals. Every year the park will hold its Chinese Flowering Crabapple Festival, which will draw thousands of visitors to appreciate the grand view of over 2000 flowering Chinese Crabapple trees with a dozen of varieties.
Named after Sun Yat Sen, Zhongshan is a beautiful park on the west side of Beijing. This is the only place in town where you will find large areas of Dutch tulips--a photographer's dream.
Apricot flower at Phoenix Ridge Scenic Area and Badaling Great Wall
1)Phoenix Ridge Scenic Area
Phoenix Ridge Scenic Area ( Beijing Fenghuangling Nature Park ) is located in the northwest of Beijing’s Haidian District, about 51 kilometers from the Tiananmen Square and 23 kilometers from the Summer Palace. The apricot blossom festival activity is usually held at the beginning of April, lasts about 10 days.
Blossom Time: April 1 - April 10 Admission: 25 Yuan