Another year brings the golden hues of the ginkgo trees, their lush branches glowing in the light. From late October to mid-November, two ancient ginkgo trees, over 600 years old, at the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum reach their peak viewing period.

Taking advantage of the season, the museum has launched a series of activities for the Ginkgo Festival. Over ten cultural institutions will participate in the "2024 Ginkgo Together" cultural and creative market, bringing unique products and inviting visitors to enjoy the autumn scenery at the museum. The market opens on October 29 and will run for a week.

The Zhenjue Temple, also known as the Five Pagoda Temple, is now open to the public as the Stone Carving Museum. Each late autumn, the ancient ginkgo tree in front of the Vajra Throne Pagoda turns a brilliant golden yellow, with the ancient pagoda and tree complementing each other to create one of Beijing's famous autumn scenes.

During the Ginkgo Festival, a creative coffee cart will be introduced in the museum, offering tea, coffee, and exclusive products inspired by the museum's collection. Beijing's autumn atmosphere is always rich, and the golden ginkgo trees are the most iconic sight of the season, coloring the city in yellow. Though recent strong winds have scattered many leaves, numerous ginkgo trees still stand beautifully resilient in the chilly air.

Within the city

The Forbidden City

If you ask where in the world the scenery is most captivating, it must be the autumn at the Forbidden City. Here, autumn arrives quietly, gently, and splendidly. Once autumn sets in, beneath the bright yellow eaves, ripples of color emerge—trees glow brilliantly, and the ground is carpeted in golden leaves.

If the autumn at the Forbidden City is a scene of romance and beauty, then the ginkgo trees are its most beautiful love poem. As the autumn breeze blows, the mottled red walls come to life under the sunlight, with golden trees beautifully contrasting against the walls, creating a stunning sight. The combination of red walls, golden roofs, and golden leaves makes for an enchanting autumn view that captivates the heart.

Admission: Peak season: 60 yuan; Off-peak season: 40 yuan 

Address: No. 4, Jingshanqian Jie(St), Dongcheng

Transportation: Take Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmendong Station; Take bus routes 1, 120, and others to Tian'anmendong Station.

Ditan Park (Temple of Earth Park)

Ditan Park is like a history book, full of endless surprises. It features not only serene and solemn architecture but also vibrant red maple leaves and golden ginkgo trees.

The Ginkgo Avenue here is one of the most famous places in Beijing to enjoy the autumn scenery. With a large number of ginkgo trees covering a vast area, the park transforms in late autumn when the ginkgo leaves turn golden, creating a beautiful blend of elegance and richness against the backdrop of ancient buildings with red walls and green tiles.

Admission: 2 yuan 

Address: No. 2, Andingmenwai Dajie(St), Dongcheng

Transportation: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple Station; Take bus routes 18, 108, 113, and others to Ditan West Gate Station.

Olympic Forest Park

The ginkgo trees in Olympic Forest Park turn yellow earlier, with a blend of yellow and green, creating a unique beauty that may transform into a sea of gold after a night of autumn winds.

It feels like a fairy tale world in autumn, where ginkgo trees, wetlands, flower seas, and delicate grasses come together. Here, all it takes is a glance upward or a turn of your head to encounter the most vibrant autumn scenery.

Admission: Free 

Address: Lin Cui Road, North Fifth Ring, Chaoyang District 

Transportation: Take Subway Line 8 to Forest Park South Gate Station; Take Express Bus Line 3 to Yangshan Bridge South or Yangshan Bridge North Station.

Zhongshan Park

Zhongshan Park is also a wonderful place, with many varieties of ginkgo trees that reveal a unique beauty against the backdrop of autumn colors and the red walls and green tiles. These ginkgo trees are mainly concentrated in two areas, and in late autumn, they become the most brilliant splash of yellow beneath the red walls and glazed tiles.

Admission: 3 yuan 

Address: No. 4, Zhonghua Lu(Rd), Dongcheng

Transportation: Take Subway Line 1 to Tiɑn'ɑnmenxi Station; Take bus routes 1, 52, and others to Tiɑn'ɑnmenxi Station.

Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace)

Yuanmingyuan is also a great place to enjoy ginkgo trees. At the intersection of the three parks, there is a wide ginkgo avenue stretching nearly a kilometer, lined with hundreds of ginkgo trees. Every autumn, it showcases the most charming scenery, making it a popular spot for photos and check-ins.

Currently, the ginkgo avenue has begun to change color, and it won't be long before it reaches its peak viewing period, presenting a dazzling golden tapestry of romantic autumn hues.

Admission: 10 yuan; Combined ticket: 25 yuan 

Address: No. 28, Tsinghua Xi Lu(Rd), Haidian

Transportation: Take Subway Line 4 to Yuanmingyuan Park Station; Take bus route 331 and others to Yuanmingyuan South Gate Station.

Outside the city

Tanzhe Temple — "The Emperor Ginkgo"

The ginkgo trees at Tanzhe Temple have always been an unmissable autumn sight in Beijing. Some photography enthusiasts even come specifically to catch a glimpse of the Emperor Ginkgo tree. This tree stands over 40 meters tall and has a diameter of more than 4 meters; it was planted during the Tang Dynasty and is now around 1,400 years old. However, perhaps due to the warmer temperatures this autumn, the leaves are turning yellow later than in previous years, with some still showing green in early November.

Admission: 50 yuan 

Address: Tanzhe Temple Town, Mentougou District 

Transportation: Take bus route 931 and others to Tanzhe Temple Station.

Dajue Temple — The Millennium "Ginkgo King"

The "Ginkgo King" at Dajue Temple is a ginkgo tree that received poetic praise from Emperor Qianlong. Located in front of the main hall of the temple, it is said to have been planted during the Liao Dynasty and is nearly a thousand years old. In the past, people considered it to be the "oldest ginkgo in Beijing," which is why it is called the "Ginkgo King."

Additionally, there is a 500-year-old ancient ginkgo tree in the North Courtyard of the temple. This ginkgo tree has a unique shape, surrounded by nine smaller ginkgo trees around its trunk, resembling nine children gathered around their mother. This scenic view is known as "Nine Sons Embracing Mother" or "One Dragon and Nine Sons."

Admission: 20 yuan 

Address: No. 9, Dajue Temple Lu(Rd), Sujiatuo Town, Haidian

Transportation: Take bus route 633 and others to Dajue Temple Station.

Hongluo Temple — The "Couple" Ginkgo Trees

These two ginkgo trees grow on either side of the Great Hero Hall, and each is over 1,000 years old. They are named the "Couple Trees" because they are a "match made in heaven": the female tree produces no flowers but bears fruit, while the male tree flowers but bears no fruit.

Despite their millennia of age, the male and female ginkgo trees remain lush and verdant, providing ample shade. Looking up or down, you will see golden leaves that beautifully complement the ancient temple's halls and corridors, with red walls and gray tiles harmonizing to display a rich historical charm.

Admission: 54 yuan 

Address: Below Hongluo Mountain, Yanqi Lake Town, Huairou

Transportation: Take bus route 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou Bus Station, then transfer to bus route H57 to Hongluo Temple Station.

Five Pagoda Temple — The "Double Female" Ancient Ginkgo Trees

In front of the Vajrasana Tower at Five Pagoda Temple, there are two ancient ginkgo trees, both of which are female trees. These ginkgo trees were planted during the Ming Dynasty, making them over 600 years old. The ginkgo tree on the east side stands 17 meters tall, while the one on the west side is more robust, reaching a height of 20 meters.

Due to the temperatures, these ancient ginkgo trees were still a mix of yellow and green a few days ago, but this weekend should likely mark the peak viewing period.

Admission: 20 yuan 

Address: No. 24, Five Pagoda Temple Village, Baishiqiao, Haidian

Transportation: Take Subway Line 4 or Line 9 to National Library Station; Take bus routes 129, 320, and others to National Library Station.

Badachu Park — Centenary Ancient Ginkgo Tree

In Badachu Park in the western mountains of Beijing, there are several ancient ginkgo trees, all over a hundred years old. Among them, the two towering ancient ginkgo trees in the Great Compassion Temple are quite famous, said to have been planted during the Yuan Dynasty. Every autumn, the bright yellow ginkgo fan leaves cover the entire courtyard.

However, it is somewhat regrettable that due to the strong winds in the past few days, many leaves have already fallen. Nonetheless, visiting to admire the beauty of the "golden fragments covering the ground" offers a unique charm.

Admission: 10 yuan 

Address: No. 3, Bajian Lu(Rd), Shijingshan

Transportation: Take bus routes 347, 972, and others to Badachu South Station.

Wofo Temple — The 800-Year-Old Ancient Ginkgo Tree

Have you noticed the ginkgo trees in Wofo Temple if you've been to the China National Botanical Garden? On either side of the Three Buddhas Hall at Wofo Temple, there are two ancient ginkgo trees, each over 800 years old and classified as national first-class ancient trees.

Currently, these ancient ginkgo trees are surrounded by clusters of golden leaves. When the sunlight filters through the dense branches and leaves, reflecting off the red walls, the interplay of light and shadow creates a stunningly beautiful scene.

Admission: China National Botanical Garden: 10 yuan; North Garden: 5 yuan; Wofo Temple: 5 yuan 

North Garden Address: Intersection of Xiangshan Road and Wofo Temple Lu(Rd), Haidian

Transportation: Take the Beijing Modern Tram XIJIAO Line to the China National Botanical Garden Station; take bus route 563 to the China National Botanical Garden Station.

In addition, the following places also house ancient ginkgo trees that have quietly endured the test of time, witnessing the historical changes of Beijing through storms and seasons.

Wanshou Temple (Beijing Art Museum) — Ancient Ginkgo Tree

Age: Over 300 years 

Location: North side of the rockery of Wanshou Temple Zhong Lu(West Rd)

Zizhuyuan Park (Purple Bamboo Park) — Ancient Ginkgo Tree 

Age: Approximately 400 years 

Location: Inside Fuyin Zizhu Zen Courtyard 

Jietai Temple — Ancient Ginkgo Tree 

Age: Over 900 years 

Type: Rare "gynodioecious” ginkgo tree 

Longquan Temple — Ancient Ginkgo Tree 

Age: Approximately 400 to 500 years (some say planted during the Liao Dynasty, making it nearly 1,000 years old) 

Location: One tree is located north of Jinlong Bridge, and the other is on the left side of the steps of the main hall at the original site of the ancient temple.

Translator: BAI Jing

Reviewer: FENG Haoxuan