Jingshan Park

The original meaning of the Chinese word "jing" is "the shadow cast by the sun on the tall pavilion", and the reason why Jingshan has the word “Jing” which means scenery in Chinese is precisely because it is the place where the imperial family appreciated sceneries. 

Jingshan Park is located at the center point of the north-south axis of Beijing's inner city, with five pavilions on the mountain, and Wanchun Pavilion is located at the commanding point of the central axis.              

At sunset time, you can overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City. Walk around the park, listen to the ditties of old Beijing, watch the old people play Tai Chi, etc. Then you can walk in the old hutongs crisscrossing with gray walls and gray tiles, and maybe you can smell the fragrance of food in the air from the courtyard of an unknown house.

Address: No. 44, Jingshan West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

Sanlihe Park

Sanlihe Park near Qianmen is a niche secret place in Beijing. The Sanlihe is the drainage channel of the old Beijing moat, built in 1437, originally a diversion canal from Yuyuantan in the Liao Dynasty. The length of the canal is three li (about 1500 meters), hence the name Sanlihe.

Sanlihe Park is not big, but it has a beautiful scene of "water passing through the streets and alleys and quiet courtyard". Small bridges with flowing water, green willows, green bricks and gray tiles, firewood and a courtyard... Everything is so natural in showing the leisurely feelings of old Beijing.

Koi and swans swim in the river and the pavilions on the shore are simple and exquisite. The whole park is like a secluded place in a busy city, so it is a good place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Address: 50 Meters East of the Intersection of Nanlucaoyuan Hutong and Qunzhi Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Translator: BAO Minmin

Reviewer: WANG Yiwen