In April, let's visit the ruins parks in Beijing and recall the vicissitudes of the capital's history!

01 Imperial City Wall Relics Park

In the late afternoon, the sun is shining in the Imperial City Wall Relics Park Square, where old people seat on benches and sunbathe, and young people play badminton happily. Some people are taking pictures in front of a small section of the restored city wall. The red walls and golden glazed tiles show the majesty of the royalty in the past. The exposed bricks at the break are uneven and silently bathed in the sunlight, like a frozen history.

This park is not only beautiful, but also rich in historical sites. From north to south, the park connects historical buildings such as the former site of the Sino-French University and the former residence of Lao She. At the southern end, there is an open-air "museum" at the site of Dong'anmen Gate of the Ming Imperial City.

Address: No.19 Nanheyan Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (west of Wangfujing Pedestrian Street)

02 Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park

The park is divided into two sections, Haidian and Chaoyang, with a total length of 9 kilometers. It is currently the largest strip park in the urban area of Beijing. Here, there is not only beautiful scenery, but also profound historical and cultural deposits. The fresh air, crisp birdsong, and the quietly flowing river make this place a contrast to the bustling traffic not far away.

It has been more than 700 years since the park was built. It takes water as the line and history as the soul. The clear stream washes away history, and the fragrance of flowers reveals the changes of the times. Standing by the stream, the sound of the battlefield is still heard, and history and reality are very close. The "Trees Enveloped in Mist at the Ancient City of Jizhou" in the park is one of the eight scenic spots in Beijing and is especially beautiful in spring.

Address: No. A38, Xiaoguan Street, Anwai, Chaoyang District, Beijing

03 Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park

The Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is located in the downtown area, starting from the southeast corner tower of the city in the east and ending at Chongwenmen in the west. The surviving ruins of the wall are about 1.5 kilometers long. It is part of the original Beijing inner city wall and is the longest surviving section.

In addition to the ruins of the city wall, the park has preserved more than 200 original ancient trees. Standing under the city wall, you can feel a sense of history and vicissitudes.

Using a simple design, the park highlights the beauty of the ruined city walls. From west to east, the park features landscapes such as ""Old Trees and Ming Walls", "Walking around the Ruined Walls" and "New Charm of Ancient Buildings".

Address: No.9 Chongwenmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

04 Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

Yuanmingyuan is a large royal palace. The park has more than 150 scenes in total and is known as the "Garden of Gardens". Unfortunately, Yuanmingyuan was sacked and destroyed by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in October 1860. Nowadays, what we see is only the Yuanmingyuan ruins that have been re-planned and repaired.

The landscape system, garden pattern and building sites of Yuanmingyuan are preserved here. The remnants of the rockery and carvings are still visible. The Changchun Garden and the Fuhai Scenic Area basically recreate the landscape of the garden in its prime.

Through these ruins, we can vaguely see the original appearance of the Yuanmingyuan. There is both the grace and elegance of the palace architecture, and the gentleness of the gardens in the water towns of Jiangnan, as well as the European garden architecture.

Why don't you bring your children to visit here on weekends? While admiring the ruins, you can also give your children a unique patriotic education lesson.

Address: No.28, Tsinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing