Beijing is at its best in autumn with blue sky, comfy sunshine and colourful leaves. The best time to see the foliage in Beijing spans about one month ranging from October 15 to November 15.
There are many places to view fall foliage in Beijing including the mountainous areas (all sections of the Great Wall) and downtown parks. Among them, Fragrant Hill is unanimously considered as the most famous place to see autumn leaves in Beijing.
If you are scared of the huge crowds of visitors at Fragrant Hill or don’t want to go to the mountains or the Great Wall outside Beijing, and would rather have a leisure time in viewing the autumn leaves in downtown Beijing, Ditan Park ( The Temple of Earth ) is definitely your best option.
The Temple of Earth once served as the place where the emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties offered sacrifices to the God of Earth. In 1957, the temple was turned into a public park names as “Temple of Earth Park” – Ditan Park in Chinese.
Tips for viewing autumn leaves in Ditan Park
1. Entrance Fee: RMB 2 per person
2. Opening hours: 06:00 – 21:00
3. How to get there
By Subway:
Take Subway Line 2 or Subway Line 5 to Yonghegong Station (Lama Temple Station), come out of the station at Exit A (northwest exit). You can see the entrance to the park then.
By Bus:
Take Bus No. 18, 75, 104, 108, 113, 119, 201, 328, 407, 426, 430, 558, 特2 to Ditan Ximen Stop
Take Bus No. 117, 125 to Ditan Dongmen Stop
Take Subway Line 2 or Subway Line 5 to Yonghegong Station (Lama Temple Station), come out of the station at Exit A (northwest exit). You can see the entrance to the park then.
By Bus:
Take Bus No. 18, 75, 104, 108, 113, 119, 201, 328, 407, 426, 430, 558, 特2 to Ditan Ximen Stop
Take Bus No. 117, 125 to Ditan Dongmen Stop
4. Which gate for the foliage
The park is fairly large with an area of 37.4 hectars sectioned into several parts. Among them, Peony Garden is the best place to see foliage in the park. Peony Garden is by the east gate. So entry into the east gate is most convenient for you to see the autumn leaves in the park. The main gate is South Gate, just north of Lama Temple.
5. Don’t scared of the crowds outside Peony Garden
Very often the park administration would organize varous kinds of events or activities during the golden autumn tim in Beijing. At the time writing, the “First Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Fair is being held in the park. Plenty of vendors sell all kinds of Beijing local stuff ranging from eating, wearing to cultural artifacts. Each event will attract huge crowds of local residents. But Peony Garden remains a quite and romatic place for you to have a low pace of life here.
Today is Oct 31, 2010, a sunny and azure day with he maximum temperature 20 degree Celsius. I went to the Temple of Earath for photo taking. Below are some of the pictures taken around noon inside the Peony Garden of Ditan Park. Hoepfully you would like them and also help you understand a little bit about the leisure life the local people as well expats enjoy against the backdrop of the busy, cosmopolitan city – Beijing.
A child with a father is happy and valuable.
The maple tree reflection is amazing.
A paradise in the busy Beijing
Autumn time, a play time
Talking and forgetting time
Catch the time and life
View and viewed
Playing Jianzi
Play cards
An expat family
