Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park, a beautiful imperial landscape garden on the highest point in Beijing, where people can take a bird’s eye view of the whole Forbidden City, covers an area of 230,000 square meters. It is a must-go place, after finishing a visit to Forbidden City along the south to north visiting route. When you exist from Forbidden City’s north gate, you will find a pavilion with 3 layered eaves on a hill. This hill is called Jingshan Hill.

Jingshan Park

Jingshan, literally “Prospect Hill”, is also known as Coal Hill. And the Jingshan Park is composed of this hill and its surrounding architectural complex. The hill was constructed with the earth and rocks excavated from the moat of the Imperial Palace and nearby canals in the Ming Dynasty. The last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen, committed suicide here on a crooked tree in 1644. You can still find this tree today.

Jingshan consists of five individual peaks which draw the approximate historical axis of central Beijing. And on the top of each peak lies an exquisite pavilion. Of all the five pavilions, Wanchun Pavilion (Ten Thousand Spring Pavilion) is the most popular one.

What to See & Do

A Bird's-eye View of the Whole Beijing City

Wanchun Pavilion sits in the center of the five summits as well as the hill, which is the highest point in Beijing. This advantage makes it a perfect place to taking a bird's-eye view of the whole Beijing City from every direction. Such as splendid and magnificent Forbidden City in the south, dignified Bell and Drum Towers in the north, along with Beihai Park and White Dagoba Temple in the west. The meticulous rectangular-shape layout of Beijing City is all in your eyes.

Vast Peonies in Full Bloom

Moreover, if you choose the best time to visit Jingshan Park, which is from late April to mid-May, you will feast your eyes on hundreds of thousands of peonies in full bloom. There are 200 varieties of peonies at least.

Experience the Authentic Lifestyle of Old Beijing

More interestingly, Jingshan Park is a perfect place to experience the authentic lifestyle of Old Beijing. It is quite popular with locals who gather together to exercise, like doing Tai Chi, playing badminton, dancing on a square, or playing music, singing and so on. If you get your interest, you can join them.

Jingshan Park

Besides, you combine a visit to JingShan Park with Beihai Park which is nearby.

When to Visit

The opening time of JingShan Park is from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. all year round, and the admission fee is quite cheap: only 2 RMB!

How to Get There

Jingshan Park Add.: No.44 Jingshanxi Street, Xicheng District, Beijing.

Travel Tips

1.It will take about 10 minutes to climb up to Wanchun Pavilion. But the climb is easy, because of the plenty of handrails. And it definitely well worth this little climb on a clear day to get photos of the Forbidden City panorama.

2.Particularly on a clear day, the pavilion at the top of the hill will be quite crowed. Many photographers try to choose the best location in the pavilion to catch the last ray of sunlight falling on the rooftops of Forbidden City.

3.If you still have time, after enjoying the magnificent views, you will come across many small groups of Beijing local people (mostly are elders) doing Tai Chi, dancing, singing opera or doing other kinds of exercise. That is the best way to get to know the local people and culture.

Jingshan Park


More Attractions in Beijing

  • Beihai Park
  • Forbidden City
  • Hutongs
  • Mutianyu Great Wall
  • Jinshanling Great Wall
  • Temple of Heaven