The ultimate Beijing picnic guide
Picnics don't have to mean soggy sandwiches with our top tips
We scoured the city to find the best grub for your hamper.
1. Chorizo bagel
Hold the sauce to keep this rosemary-flavoured bagel, topped with chorizo crispy fried onions, chewy and tasty. Traitor Zhou’s Non-Kosher Delicatessen. 40RMB.
2. Iberico ham
WeChat shop Loveat delivers ready-to-eat Marcial (196RMB per 100g) and Cinqo Jotas (228RMB for 80g) Iberico ham straight to your door, along with a number of other luxe delicatessen foods.
3. Uncured ham and walnut sandwich
Pekotan. 28RMB.
4. Luxe pumpkin and feta quiche
Served with a green salad and balsamic dressing on the side. Deli de Luxe. 60RMB.
5. Tender Niu semi-hard cheese
Le Fromagier de Pekin (available at Chez Gerard and Sanyuanli Market). 60RMB.
6. Applepocalypse, Chunky Punkin', Pecandrogynous, Thai Lime and Cherry Popper pies
Rager Pie might be closing down, but that doesn't mean you can't stuff your face there in the meantime. It's 15 percent off everything this weekend! 25-40RMB (pre-order for large pies).
7. Tribe salad
Quinoa, peach, mixed greens, pistachios, fennel and beet hummus. Tribe. 62RMB.
8. Tussock Jumper pinot noir
Complements cold meats and light cheeses. Cheers. 97RMB.
9. Pares Balta brut cava
Light, fruity and ideal for warm-weather drinking. Traitor Zhou’s Nonkosher Delicatessen. 170RMB.
Our pick of the best parks for picnics
Finding a grassy patch that you’re actually allowed to sit on poses somewhat of a challenge in our fair city, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Throw caution to the wind and pop your blanket down at one of these picnic-friendly parks.
Ritan Park
Best for Peace and quiet
Despite its location in the middle of the CBD, picnic spots don’t get much more tranquil than Ritan Park. This urban oasis has plenty of grassy areas, shaded benches, pavilions and lakeside seats where you can set up camp. A popular park throughout the day (and into the night), here you can watch people dancing, practising tai chi. It’s also only a 15 to 30 minute walk away from The Place, Parkview Green and Central Park, so there’s plenty of opportunity for you to load up your picnic basket before you go with treats from Pekotan, Tavalin Bagels and the Opera Bombana bakery. 6 Ritan Bei Lu, Chaoyang district. Free. Subway station: Yonganli.
Olympic Forest Park
Best for A whole lot of space
While the south entrance is more of a hectic tourist trap than outdoor reprieve, following the trails through the park you’ll easily find a quiet green corner to set up camp. There’s plenty of entertainment, with an amusement park and pedalos available for hire. Build up your appetite by climbing Mount Yangshan for a picturesque view of the park and Bird’s Nest stadium. 33 Kehui Lu, North Fourth Ring Road, Chaoyang district. Free. Subway station: Forest Park South Gate.
Purple Bamboo Park
Best for Lake views
The expanse of grass that greets picnic pioneers entering Purple Bamboo’s east gate is a perfect patch to set down and start your fresh-air feast. There are also plenty of other spots on offer by the lake, in pavilions, or hidden away in one of the park’s plentiful treeshaded nooks. Later, make your way to the park’s northwestern corner, where you can jump on a canal river cruise to the Summer Palace.35 Zhongguancun Nan Dajie, Haidian district. Free. Subway station: National Library.
Rendinghu Park
Best for Escapism
Tucked away in a quiet residential area just north of Gulou, this secluded Xicheng space took Rome’s Unesco-rated Villa d’Este gardens as its inspiration when it was redesigned in the late ’90s. While its southern side is populated by European-style archways and sculptures, the verdant patches that encircle the lake to the park’s north make for a great spot to roll out a rug and tuck in, in surroundings considerably quieter than your normal amusement-laden Beijing park. 11 Liupukang Jie, Xicheng district. Free. Subway station: Andelibeijie.
Chaoyang Park
Best for Carnival atmosphere
Downtown Beijing’s biggest park has got it all: plenty of open green spaces, a boating lake, an amusement park and a fake beach complete with sun-loungers and an outdoor water park. You’ll find the best picnic spots to the northeast of the park, away from the crowds, where vast expanses of green overlook the water. For impromptu picnickers, the west gate of the park is only five-minute walk away from Jenny Lou’s, Annie’s, Comptoirs de France, Deli de Luxe and more. 1 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang district. 5RMB (park entrance only). Subway station: Tuanjiehu.
Hit 'Read more' for loads of ideas for things to do in the sunshine.