Traveling around Beijing to experience the special taste of Old Beijing and see the beautiful scenery the spring boasts, you cannot miss the world famous gardens built by the past imperial families which ruled China for hundreds of years. This tour around Beijing must include the following sites: Jingshan Park, the Temple of Heaven Park, the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace and Beihai Park.

Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park is located in the center of Beijing and covers an area of 230,000 square meters. The relative height of the Jingshan Hill is 45.7 meters and it is 94.2 meters above sea level. The specialty of this small park is it preserves the hill piled up in the Liao Dynasty, the enclosing walls and palace gates left by the Jin Dynasty and the well-protected ancient group buildings of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. In spring, the most-visited spot in this park is the peony garden at the back of the hill, and this peony garden is the largest among its kind in Beijing. The best time to appreciate the peony blossoms in the park is from late April to early May.

Address: Opposite the back gate of the Forbidden City

Getting there:

1.Walk to this park after you have toured the Forbidden City.

2.Take Bus No. 5 to Jingshan West Street (景山西街); take Bus No. 58, 60, 111 or 124 to Jingshan East Street (景山东街).

The Temple of Heaven Park

The Temple of Heaven Park is located beside Tiantan Road in Dongcheng District and served as one holy place for the emperor to worship the God of Heaven on each Winter Solstice and the God of Grain in the first lunar month of the year. In spring, the most famous attraction of the park is the

lilac, which can be found located west of the cypress trees of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (祈年殿). The lilac trees here cover an area of over 6,000 square meters. The best time to appreciate these flowers is from late April to early May.

Address: No. 7, Tiantannei East, Dongcheng District, Beijing 北京市东城区天坛内东里7号

Admission: 10 yuan; coupon: 30 yuan

Opening hours: 6:00-21:00 (No tickets sold at and after 20:00)

Getting there: Take Subway Line 5 and get off at East Gate of the Temple of Heaven; take Bus No. 2, 17, 20, 35, 36, 69. 71, 93, 120, 504 or 707 to West Gate of the Temple of Heaven.Old Summer PalaceBeihai Park