Where to Catch Spring Blossoms in Beijing
Although Beijing is due to get one last round of snow before we can officially say that spring is here to stay, one thing that has already begun to arrive are blossoms. I was pleasantly surprised to see some on my daily cycle to work, and took it as a sure sign that spring has, finally, sprung.
Right now it's still a little early to see cherry blossoms, generally the best time to see the blossoms in Beijing is towards the end of March and beginning of April, though this depends on the weather. In preparation, we’ve put together a list of the best places in Beijing to go and see the blossoms.
Located in west Beijing, Yuyuantan Park (玉渊潭公园 yùyuāntán gōngyuán) 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 the Beijing TV Tower in the background, it definitely makes for some Instagram-worthy photos.
Be warned, it does get extremely busy during peak season and you may be fighting for space to take that classic selfie in the blossoms. (When I went last year it was towards the end of the cherry blossom season and was still quite busy but not overwhelming, however there were fewer cherry blossoms.)
Another good spot to go to avoid crowds, because it’s so large, is the Summer Palace (颐和园 yíhéyuán). In spring you’ll find plenty of blossom tress spread around the lake, in the courtyards and on the hilltops. The Summer Palace is also a great place for viewing magnolia blossoms. Plus, as you walk around the park, you’ll be blessed with a pleasant whiff of their beautiful fragrance.
It should come as no surprise that the Beijing Botanical Garden (北京植物园 běijīng zhíwùyuán) 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.
Given the large size of the Botanical Garden, this is a pretty good spot to avoid major crowds and completely immerse yourself in some of Beijing’s beautiful blooms. They also host an annual peach blossom festival, the date of which varies year to year.
For those really looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and get back to nature, a trip up to Fenghuang Nature Park (凤凰岭自然风景公园 fènghuáng lǐng zìrán fēngjǐng gōngyuán) is well worth it. This park is famous for its apricot blossoms and during spring it becomes a sea of white and pink flowers.
If you’re looking for a more centrally-located park to enjoy the blossoms, then Beihai Park (北海公园 běihǎi gōngyuán) is the place for you! Just northwest of the Forbidden City, Beihai’s relatively large size means that even during the peak 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.
Jingshan Park (景山公园 jǐngshān gōngyuán) not only has spectacular views of the Forbidden City, but is also home to over 20,000 peonies. These bloom a little later then 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 peony.
A beautiful place to visit no matter the time of year, the Temple of Heaven (天坛 tiāntán) is especially pretty during spring when the lilac trees are in bloom. There are over 240 lilac trees in the Temple of Heaven Park, making it the biggest lilac clove in Beijing. You can find the lilac clove by the Hall of Prayer.
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Images: Dianping, Unsplash, yytpark.com, Katie Coy
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