Where to Picnic and Camp in Beijing

This time of year is perfect for camping and picnicking. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold, making it a great time to spend a weekend with family or friends. Today, I’ll recommend some places in Beijing where you can camp and picnic, all of which are worth visiting.

1、 Jiangfu Park

Opening Hours: Summer 6:00-21:00; Winter 6:00-20:30

Jiangfu Park is located next to Langyuan. It’s most famous for the violet field of “February Orchid” along the railway. If you want to see the flowers, you must enter from the north gate of the park, and the dreamy pale purple field is on your right hand. April is the best time to appreciate the February Orchid, so it’s perfect for a Qingming Festival outing. Bring a tent and a mat and spend a comfortable spring day admiring the flowers and water birds.

Address: Jiangfu Park, Jiangtai East Road, Chaoyang District

2、 Yanshan Park

Opening Hours: 6:00-19:00

Ticket Price: Free

Yanshan Park is not big, but it has mountains, water, and forests. There is a children’s playground inside that requires a separate fee of 68 yuan for one adult and one child. It has basic non-powered facilities such as climbing, trampolines, and sandpits. Go-karts and a small train require separate fees and are optional. The forest lawn can be used to pitch tents, and with some food, you can spend a wonderful spring day. Yanshan Park also has a great spot where you can see the watchtower of the Olympic Forest Park. At sunset, the afterglow will bathe the lake in a beautiful light.

Address: South of Yanshan Bridge, North Fifth Ring Road, Olympic Village Street

3、 World Flower Expo

Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30 Ticket Price: 50 yuan

The World Flower Expo costs 60 yuan per ticket, and there are six greenhouse exhibition halls inside. I think this is the best natural oxygen bar for dry spring days. There are indoor water bodies in the greenhouses, with graceful swans swimming leisurely on the clear water, which is very beautiful. The desert plant exhibition hall is the most unique, with cacti, desert roses, agave, etc., making you feel like you’ve been to Morocco. The children’s playground is suitable for children aged 2 and above, with climbing facilities as the main focus, slides, swings, sand pits, and more. It’s enough to keep the kids entertained for a while. The large lawn in the park is super comfortable to walk on, making it perfect for picnics. Also, the Flower Expo is great for taking pictures. Any shot you take is an artistic photo.

Address: No. 235, South Fourth Ring Road, Fengtai District

4、 Yuyuantan Park

Opening Hours:

January 1 to May 31 6:00-21:30

June 1 to August 31 6:00-22:30

September 1 to December 31 6:00-21:30

Ticket Price: Regular ticket 2 yuan; Half-price ticket 1 yuan

Yuyuantan Park is really beautiful when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Conversely, there are also a lot of people. If you decide to go there for a picnic, be sure to go early in the morning. As for how many good pictures you can take, I won’t say much, you can see for yourself. From mid to late March to early April is the best time to see the cherry blossoms. If you want to picnic and enjoy the cherry blossoms, be sure to go during this season!

Address: No. 10, West Third Ring Road, Haidian District

5、 Beigong National Forest Park

Opening Hours: 7:00-19:00

Ticket Price: 10 yuan

Every year, many people set up tents in the health-preserving forest area of Beigong National Forest Park. As with other parks, it’s recommended to be prepared. Also, bring a simple mat just in case of pandemic control measures. The health-preserving forest has a beautiful scenery, and the wooden forest trails have a natural atmosphere. It’s truly a forest oxygen bar. There are pavilions and towers in the park. Climb up the mountain and you can find a mini-zoo with cute animals such as monkeys and alpacas. There is also a children’s playground in the park where you can slide and play on the trampoline. Although there are not many projects, they are enough for children to play on.

Spring in the park is super beautiful, with various mountain peaches scattered on the distant hills. If there are boats in the lake, it’s like a beautiful Jiangnan painting. I need to remind everyone that parking spaces in the park are limited. If it’s a weekend, you really need to leave early.

Address: No. 55, East Dahuichang Road, Changxindian Town, Fengtai District

6、 West Mountain National Forest Park

Opening Hours: Peak season 7:00-18:00; Off-season 8:00-17:00

Ticket Price: 10 yuan

West Mountain National Forest Park is very large. If you want to hike in the spring, this is the best choice. Now is the season for mountain peach blossoms, and they are very beautiful all over the mountains. Climb to the top of the mountain and look east. On clear days, you can see all of Beijing. There are the famous Ghost Laughing Stone in the mountain, as well as many beautiful and rare birds. Squirrels often appear to ask for food. I suggest you bring some sunflower seeds and peanuts to summon these cute little creatures! There are many areas in the mountains suitable for setting up tents, and of course, the higher you go, the fewer people there will be. But I think the scenery is beautiful all the way, such as the Forest Grand Stage, Happy Forest, Huayang Song, etc. You can find a place to rest at any time according to your physical strength.

Address: 100 meters west of the intersection of Minzhuang Road and Xiangshan South Road

7、 Olympic Forest Park

Opening Hours: Peak season 6:00-21:00; Off-season 6:00-20:00

Ticket Price: Free

Olympic Forest Park is located on the North Fifth Ring Road and is known as “Runner’s Paradise”. It covers an area of 680 hectares and is divided into two parts, south and north. The south park is dominated by “mountain shapes and water systems”, with Yanshan, Aohai, and artificial wetlands as its main landscapes. The north park is dominated by natural, wild, dense forests, with Flower Field Fun, Swallow Tower, and Big Tree Garden as its main landscapes.

Address: No. 33, Kehui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing