Beihai Park, Beijing

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I have noticed that many VT members highly recommended a visit to Beihai Park. It is next to Jingshan Park. The closest subway is not very near it so if you are coming from another place, I would recommend that you take a taxi to go to Beihai Park. I walked a long way from Behai Park after my visit.

Now, as to the beauty of Beihai Park, it has what a dream park would ideally have. Visitors will feel harmony, contentment, happiness and lose their sense of time while there.

The most prominent feature of Beihai Park is no doubt the Temple Dagoba. Let me share with you my bitter experience. I did climb up my way to get there but when I was that close, my point of entry said construction is being done so please take so and so back door. I went to that door and all I saw was a courtyard with some hanging clothes. Let's put it this way, workers in that park probably stay there to help maintain it. But out of fear of being accused of trespassing, I stopped when I was halfway and turned around. I can't ask anybody because the caretakers do not speak English. Whatever, I did turn around and do not regret a thing. Beihai Park has so many features that you can get stuck in one place and realize you haven't seen 3/4 of the entire park!

This 800-year old park has the following buildings among its 50 buildings: Tower for Storing Ancient Calligraphy, Rading Room of Carvings, Painting Boat, Studio of Peaceful Mind, Snow Hall, Temple of Good Luck, Ten Thousand Buddha Tower, Studio of Peaceful Mind.

I, for one, would like to thank the gardeners who masterminded the design and did perfect arrangement of Beihai Park. The corridors, bridges, the gardens, the pavilions, they simply please the senses. The garden covers an area of 150 hectares.

There is a fine resto inside but it was closed when I decided to have lunch at 3 pm. There are small eateries/restaurants by the lake and I have tried dumplings there. Very delicious!

Locals take boats to go across the lake.

I was brought to this beautiful Imperial garden called Bei hai Park in Beijing from the 1oth century which contains palaces, temples and a wonderful lake. The park covers 69 hectares and the lake covers more than half of that area and maybe that is why it is called Beihai which literally means "Northern Sea".

Chinese legend has it that Gods in three magic mountains called 'Penglai', 'Yingzhou' and 'Fangzhang' located to the east of Bohai Bay (to had a kind of herbal medicine which would help humans gain immortality. And so emperors sent people to these mountains to look for those conctions…did they ever find it?

There was a lot of people in the park when I visited and it was nice to people-watch. This was also walking distance from my hotel, so I ventured out one and just sat by the lake. I also remember walking through passageway flanked by trees that whose leave were rattling so crisply with the wind…beautiful place, Bei Hai!

Bei Hai Park is just a 10 minutes walk if you exit the Forbidden City on the North Exit and just across the street from the West Exit of Jing Shan Park.

It is a smaller imperial garden than Summer Palace. The highlight is the Lamma Buddhist Temple on the island of the Bei Hai Lake.

A long climb all the way to the very top of the Lamma Pagoda gives a wonderful view of the Forbidden city and a panaromic view of Beijing City.

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Located not far from The Great Wall (Badaling Section) is a wildlife park where the animals have ample space to run free, much better than being kept in a cage. It was loads of fun being able to get up close to pet these beasts.

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Located not far from The Great Wall (Badaling Section) is a wildlife park where the animals have ample space to run free, much better than being kept in a cage. It was loads of fun being able to get up close to pet these beasts.

Baihai Park is situated in the Xicheng District and has a history of more than 1,000 years. This 68-hectare park was once a part of the Forbidden City but has become a public space in 1925. The park is enjoyed by Beijingers and tourists alike.

Main attractions include the Nine Dragon Wall, Five Dragon Pavilions, and the White Dagoba Temple.
Admission Fee: CNY 10 (Apr.1 to Oct. 31); CNY 5 (Nov. 1 to Mar. 31)

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After a long hot day exploring the forbidden city, you need to cool down and relax.
Start at the south entrance of the forbidden city and then exit at the north gate. Turn left and head towards Beihai park. To rent a paddle boat between 4 people is really cheap. you can slowly work your way round the lake trailing your hand in the water. It's definitely worth it.

Visit Beihai Park during the end of summer, in August, when the lotus are blooming. Like all the parks in Beijing, these are wonderful places to see locals sing in a gazebo, play chesse and cards, and various Chinese excercises.