Blossoms in Beijing: A Guide for Where and When To See Them
With daytime temperatures firmly set in double figures, it's safe to say spring is slowly arriving in the capital, and if you've been out and about recently, you might have noticed that Beijing's blossoms have also begun to arrive. It's coming up to the perfect time to see cherry blossoms, which normally bloom from mid to late March up to the beginning of April. So, we've put together a guide with some of the best places in Beijing to see different kinds of blossoms and when.
Yuyuantan Park
Located in west Beijing, Yuyuantang Park is the number one spot to go and see the cherry blossoms, as it hosts its own annual cherry blossom festival. At the center of the park is a large lake edged with pink cherry blossoms along its bank, and with the CCTV Tower in the background, the location definitely makes for some Instagram-worthy photos.
Be warned, though: The park does get extremely busy during peak season when the annual Cherry Blossom Festival – the first of Beijing's three big flower festivals – is in full swing, so you may be fighting for space to take that classic selfie in the blossoms. The park has yet to announce the exact opening date of this year's festival, but it normally kicks off around Mar 18-20. (When I went a few years ago, it was towards the end of the cherry blossom season and was still quite busy but not overwhelming, however there were fewer cherry blossoms.)
Yuyuantan Park 玉渊潭公园
10 Xisanhuan Lu, Haidian District
海淀区西三环10号
Opening times: Sep 1-May 31 – 6am-9.30pm (no entry past 9pm); Jun 1-Aug 31 – 6am-10.30pm (no entry past 9.30pm)
Entry: RMB 10 (RMB 15 during cherry blossom festival)
Summer Palace
A good spot to go to avoid crowds (because it’s so large) is the Summer Palace. In spring, you’ll find plenty of blossom trees spread around the lake, in the courtyards and on the hilltops. The Summer Palace is also a great place to view magnolia blossoms, which typically bloom from mid-March to April. Plus, as you walk around the park, you’ll be blessed with a pleasant whiff of their beautiful fragrance.
Summer Palace 颐和园
19 Xinjian Gongmen Lu, Haidian District
海淀区新建宫门路19号
Opening times: Nov 1-Mar 31 – 6.30am-7pm (no entry past 6pm); Apr 1-Oct 31 – 6am-8pm (no entry past 7pm)
Entry: RMB 20
Botanical Gardens
It should come as no surprise that Beijing’s Botanical Gardens are home to some of the capital's prettiest cherry blossoms. Along with these, you can also experience peach blossoms and other springtime flowers such as tulips. A big event to watch out for is the Peach Blossom Festival, which takes place every year from April to May and is another one of the three big flower festivals in Beijing.
Given the large size of the Botanical Gardens, this is a pretty good spot to avoid major crowds and completely immerse yourself in some of Beijing’s beautiful blooms.
Botanical Gardens 国家植物园
Intersection of Xiangshan Lu and Wofosi Lu, Haidian District
海淀区香山路与卧佛寺路交叉口
Opening times: Mar 16-Nov 15 – 6am-9pm (no entry past 8pm); Nov 16-Mar 15 6.30am-7pm (no entry past 6pm)
Entry: RMB 10
Haitang Huaxi
One of the ten scenic spots in The Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park, Haitang Huaxi is the best place to see begonias in Beijing. The begonias here bloom around mid-April and there are over 5,000 of them, making this the largest begonia garden in Beijing. It’s a great place to stroll around and take in views of the old Yuan Dadu city walls and scenic waterways.
Haitang Huaxi 海棠花溪
100A Beitucheng Donglu, Xicheng District (inside Yuan Dadu Ruins Park)
西城区北土城东路甲100号元大都遗址公园内
Opening times: Open 24 hours
Entry: Free
Beihai Park
If you’re looking for a more centrally located park to enjoy the blossoms, then Beihai Park is just the place! Situated northwest of the Forbidden City, Beihai’s relatively large size means that even during the peak cherry blossom period, it shouldn’t get too crowded. A great idea is to rent one of the boats and take in the view of the White Dagoba surrounded by blossoms on the Jade Flowery Islet.
Beihai Park 北海公园
1 Wenjin Jie, Xicheng District
西城区文津街1号
Opening times: Nov 1-Mar 31 – 6.30am-8pm (no entry past 7.30pm); Apr 1-Oct 31 – 6am-9pm (no entry past 8.30pm)
Entry: RMB 15
Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park not only has spectacular views of the Forbidden City, but it is also home to over 20,000 peonies. These bloom a little later than cherry blossoms and are best viewed mid-April to early May, however they are a sight worth waiting for! Jingshan Park holds an annual Peony Festival during this time, and you can enjoy over 560 different varieties of the flower.
Jingshan Park 景山公园
44 Jingshan Xijie, Xicheng District
西城区景山西街44号
Opening times: Nov 1-Mar 31 – 6.30am-8pm (no entry past 7.30pm); Apr 1-Oct 31 – 6am-9pm (no entry past 8.30pm)
Entry: RMB 2
Temple of Heaven
A beautiful place to visit, no matter the time of year, the Temple of Heaven is especially pretty during spring when the lilac trees are in bloom, from around early April to late May. There are over 240 lilac trees in the Temple of Heaven Park, making it the biggest lilac grove in Beijing. You can find the lilac grove by the Hall of Prayer.
Temple of Heaven 天坛公园
Yongdingmennei Dajie, Chongwen, Dongcheng District (west gate)
东城区崇文区永定门内大街（天坛西门）
Opening times: Nov 1-Mar 31 – 6.30am-10pm (no entry past 9pm); Apr 1-Oct 31 – 6am-10pm (no entry past 9pm)
Entry: RMB 28
If you want to book tickets ahead of time, you can search for the "畅游公园" mini-program on WeChat. Most of the parks on this list are featured there, and they now also offer the option to switch the language to English when booking.
READ: Three Things for the Week Ahead in Beijing (Mar 16-22)
Images: Uni You, Li Yiming
