3.23 Live Update: The Apricot Plums at Zizhuyuan Park Are Truly Breathtaking
Your Guide to Plum Blossom Viewing at Zizhuyuan Park
Beijing in spring is a city of hidden romance, and Zizhuyuan Park is a must-see treasure. From late March to mid-April each year, the park transforms into a sea of flowers, with the apricot plums at Youxian Villa being particularly stunning. If you're looking for a touch of spring romance, follow this guide!
I. Highlights
1. Youxian Villa Apricot Plums: This is the perfect spot for plum blossom viewing in Zizhuyuan Park. The apricot plum, a hybrid of apricot and plum blossoms, blooms in abundance here. The flowers are large and vibrant, ranging from snow-white to rosy pink. The branches are laden with blossoms, emitting a delicate fragrance. This spot is incredibly photogenic, and wearing traditional clothing can enhance the charm of your photos.
2. Jiangnan-style Gardens: Zizhuyuan Park boasts a unique Jiangnan garden style, featuring extensive waterways and three lakes, two islands, and one embankment. Five arched bridges connect the lakes, islands, and shores, dotted with pavilions, bridges, and corridors. The white walls, gray tiles, and overhanging eaves are reminiscent of Huizhou architecture, transporting you to a picturesque Jiangnan water town. Every corner is a photo opportunity.
3. Diverse Plant Life: In addition to apricot plums, the park is home to various bamboo species, peach blossoms, cherry blossoms, crabapple blossoms, and many other flowers and plants. In spring, the lush bamboo contrasts beautifully with the vibrant flowers, creating a lively scene. It's an ideal place to connect with nature and embrace the spirit of spring.
II. Itinerary
- Morning: Enter through the north gate and head to Youxian Villa to admire the apricot plums. The soft morning light is perfect for photography. Take a leisurely stroll along the lakeside path, enjoying the spring scenery and the gentle breeze.
- Lunch: Dine at one of the park's restaurants. We recommend the affordable cafeteria, where the signature pork knuckle is only 38 yuan and offers generous portions. There are also various vegetable dumplings and other delicacies, all for less than 30 yuan per person.
- Afternoon: Explore other areas of the park, such as the bamboo groves and the historical Fuyin Zizhuyuan from the Qing Dynasty. You can also take a boat tour on the lake for a different perspective of the park's beauty. If you're interested in plants, visit the botanical garden.
III. Photography Tips
1. Best Time to Shoot: 8–10 am and 3–5 pm, when the light is soft and the colors are more vibrant.
2. Outfit Recommendations: Light-colored clothing, such as white dresses or light blue shirts, works well. A simple hat can complement your outfit. Avoid overly bright colors that might clash with the flowers. If you're unsure how to pose, interact with the surroundings—lean against a railing, rest against a tree trunk, or smell the flowers—for a natural and beautiful look.
3. Photography Techniques: Use the blooming apricot plums as a backdrop. Shooting from a low angle can create a sense of abundance, while close-ups of petals and stamens can showcase the beauty of the flowers. Shooting upwards can help avoid crowds and highlight both the subject and the flowers.
IV. Transportation
1. Subway: Take Subway Line 4 or Line 9 to National Library Station. Exit from Exit E or F and walk about 10 minutes to the north gate of the park.
2. Bus: Several bus routes stop at National Library Station and Zizhuqiao Station. Use a bus navigation app for specific routes.
3. Car: There are parking lots around the park, but parking may be limited during holidays. Public transportation is recommended.
V. Nearby Attractions
1. National Library of China: Adjacent to Zizhuyuan Park, this is one of the largest and most advanced national libraries in the world, with a rich collection of ancient books and rare editions. The architecture is impressive, offering a journey into a vast ocean of knowledge.
2. Beijing Zoo: Not far from the park, the zoo houses a wide variety of animals, including giant pandas and golden monkeys. It's a great place for a family outing.
3. Five-Pagoda Temple: This historic temple features the unique Diamond Throne Pagoda and exquisite architecture and stone carvings. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture.
VI. Dining Recommendations
1. Sishitongtang: This restaurant features a Republican-era decor and preserves traditional culinary techniques. The "Three Non-Stick" dish and the "Da Chibao Catches Wu Kui" dessert are visually appealing. The pea flour cake with sesame and peanut filling is a must-try.
2. Jingweizhai: Specializing in Peking duck and traditional Beijing cuisine, this restaurant offers a unique presentation of the State Banquet Peony Roast Duck. Other recommended dishes include Qianlong Cabbage, mung bean milk with fried dough rings, and stewed offal.
3. Dayali Roast Duck Restaurant: This restaurant offers authentic hanging oven roast duck at affordable prices. The duck is crispy and tender, served with a variety of side dishes, catering to a wide range of tastes.
4. Xiaodioli Tang: This restaurant serves traditional Beijing cuisine, with the signature Xiaodioli pear soup being a warm and comforting choice. The pear soup is thick and sweet, and other Beijing specialties are also available.
VII. Things to Note
1. The park is free to enter, but some attractions inside may require separate fees, such as exhibitions at Fuyin Zizhuyuan.
2. Spring weather can be unpredictable, so dress comfortably and bring rain gear or sunscreen as needed.
3. The park can get crowded during peak flower season. Please be mindful of the environment, refrain from picking flowers, and practice responsible flower viewing.
4. Boat services are available in the park. Please follow the instructions of the staff and prioritize safety.
The tickets are easy as it provides the Qr codes directly. Love trip.com as it allows tickets to be purchased on the day b4 or same day. These zoo entrance tic doesn't include the panda house tickets. Had to buy inside for that. The most interesting highlight in the zoo is the panda house. The rest of the animals are sleeping in the day, and a few animals were not there. Love the dolphin show at the Aquarium although it was quite a short performance. Huge zoo and many varieties of animals. Although quite an old zoo but it was well maintained.
Entrance to the zoo was crowded and had to queue as it was public holiday in China during my visit. This tickets are easy as it provides the Qr codes directly. It doesn't include the panda house tickets though. Had to buy inside for that. The most interesting highlight in the zoo is the panda house. The rest of the animals are sleeping in the day, and a few animals like tiger are not there. Love the dolphin show at the Aquarium although it was quite a short performance. Huge zoo and many varieties of animals. Although quite an old zoo but it was well maintained.
The swan takes off in a high-profile manner. It calls loudly and looks around, just like a singer shouting to the stands before singing: "Friends here, how are you?" [snicker][snicker] You must be patient during this process, because it will not take off after singing a few words. It will not fly without making the scene warm. [naughty] There were two times when I put down the camera because it took too long to warm up the scene, but it suddenly spread its wings and kicked the water, stirring up a string of waves, singing for dozens of meters, leaving me stunned. [dizzy] The landing of the red-crested pochard is very low-key. Many times when I found its landing figure, it was already very close to the water surface. It landed quietly and lightly, and the water splashes were as heavy as an Olympic champion. [strong] Birds, like people, have different personalities and behave differently. Whether it is high-profile or low-key, as a member of nature, cherishing them is what we should do. [snicker]
As one of the oldest zoos in China, Beijing Zoo has a beautiful environment and rich animal species. The Giant Panda Pavilion is the most popular. However, some tourists complained that the facilities are a bit old and the high traffic during the peak season leads to crowds. It is recommended to avoid holidays and make an appointment to visit the Panda Pavilion in advance. Overall, this place is suitable for family travel and animal lovers. It is cost-effective and has convenient transportation. It is a good place to learn about wild animals and relax.
Beijing Zoo Runaway Test | Special Forces-style Check-in Panda Diplomat 🌅Early Morning Raid Swipe ID card to enter the North Gate in seconds (the queue for paper ticket channel exceeds 20 minutes), the first battery car 15 yuan goes straight to the Olympic Panda Pavilion, the gate opens to grab the C position of Menglan's eating show. It is tested that tourists who arrive earlier can see 30 minutes more active pandas than those who arrive after 8 o'clock! 🐾Runaway route ▌Panda Pavilion Blitz: Shoot the famous scene of looking up and chewing bamboo against the window (evacuate before the tour group arrives at 8 o'clock) ▌Aquarium Window Period: Take the opportunity before the show starts to shoot the manta ray emoji with a wide angle, the glass tunnel has less people and the filming rate doubles ▌Light and Shadow Magic: 19 yuan panda ice cream + wolf pavilion glass reflection, easily get the double beast in the same frame ▌Lion Tiger Mountain Hunting Shadow: Squat the keeper to feed and capture the tiger stretching, the continuous shooting mode must be turned on! 📷Photography metaphysics ✔️Flamingo area shooting with the light, feathers with built-in gilded filter ✔️Guide to secretly shooting at the gap of the giraffe fence, the background crowd automatically disappears ✔️Use Huawei's streamer shutter in the night hall, the serval afterimage photo is praised by the artifact 🔍Hidden copy ▶️Parrot Hall code "Do you want melon seeds?" triggers the bird to stop on the back of the hand (10 yuan/time) ▶️Amphibian Hall collects 3 pieces of gecko shed skin fragments to exchange for limited postcards ▶️14:00 Hold up a piece of bread to attract pelicans to dive and grab food, the success rate of capturing is 80% 💡Budget travel bible ✔️Student ID card to buy a combined ticket for the aquarium and save 40 yuan, get a free guide ✔️Turn right after leaving the park and the cucumber + Arctic Ocean set meal saves 30 yuan compared to the park ✔️Official store on the left side of the exit to drop the price of dolls by 40%, refuse assassins ❗Blood and tears warning 1️⃣Bring your own power bank! The rental point price has increased to 5 yuan/half hour 2️⃣ Lemur Island must be visited before 10:30, and everyone will face the wall and shut up in the afternoon 3️⃣ Be careful when using baby carriages in the bird park, as the vibration of the gravel road is comparable to that of a tractor (Double-click ❤️ to send a private message to the crane feeding coordinates, and follow us to receive the "Night Exploration of Mysterious Animal Behavior Illustrated Book") Measured data • E-ticket entry efficiency increased by 200% • Early morning battery cars save 25 minutes of walking time • Panda ice cream is limited to 300 sticks per day
As one of the oldest and largest zoos in China, Beijing Zoo is well worth a visit, especially for family trips, animal lovers or tourists who want to relax. Here are its highlights and reasons for recommendation: 1. A century-old zoo Beijing Zoo was founded in 1906 (during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty) and is the earliest zoo open to the public in China. Many historical buildings and garden landscapes are preserved in the zoo, such as Changguan Tower and Binfeng Hall, which have both natural and humanistic atmosphere. 2. The Giant Panda Pavilion is the core highlight National Treasure Giant Panda: Beijing Zoo is an important base for the protection and display of giant pandas in China. The Giant Panda Pavilion here is divided into the Olympic Pavilion and the Asian Games Pavilion. Many giant pandas live there all year round, including the cute "Internet celebrity" pandas (such as Bai Tian, Meng Lan, etc.). Popular Science and Interaction: There is a giant panda popular science exhibition area in the museum, which is suitable for bringing children to understand the habits and protection knowledge of pandas. 3. Special animal exhibition area Monkey Mountain: The classic old-fashioned open-air monkey mountain, where you can observe the lively interaction of macaques. Lion and Tiger Mountain: A large beast exhibition area where you can see lions, tigers, leopards, etc. Waterfowl Lake: Swans, pelicans, mandarin ducks and other birds live in the lake, suitable for walking and viewing. Other highlights: Giraffe Pavilion, Penguin Pavilion, Amphibian and Reptile Pavilion, Golden Monkey Pavilion, etc., with rich animal species (about 500 species, more than 5,000). 4. Suitable for parent-child experience Children's Zoo: You can feed docile animals such as alpacas and ponies at close range (feed must be purchased separately). Popular Science Education: There are animal behavior displays, popular science explanations and other activities in the park, which are suitable for children to play and learn. Amusement facilities: Small playgrounds and animal-themed cultural and creative stores add fun. 5. Convenient transportation, surrounding areas can be linked to play Geographic location: Located outside Xizhimen, directly accessible by Metro Line 4 "Zoo Station", convenient transportation. Joint tour recommendation: Close to Beijing Aquarium (need to buy tickets separately), you can arrange to visit the zoo and aquarium in one day. 6. High cost-effectiveness Ticket price: Peak season (April-October) adult combined ticket (including panda pavilion) is only 19 yuan, off-season 14 yuan, children half price, very cost-effective. Garden environment: The park is shaded by trees, ancient buildings and natural landscapes are combined, suitable for walking and relaxing. Suitable crowd Parent-child family: Animal interaction, popular science education, rich children's facilities. Young people: Check in the Internet celebrity giant panda, take photos and relax. Animal lovers: Observe rare animals up close and participate in popular science activities. Tips Time arrangement: It is recommended to arrange 3-4 hours, and animals are more active in the morning. Avoid peaks: There are more people on weekends and holidays, so try to arrive early. Joint ticket purchase: It is recommended to buy the "Zoo + Panda Pavilion + Aquarium" joint ticket to save queuing time. If you love animals or want to experience a relaxing urban nature trip, Beijing Zoo is a good choice!
One of the largest zoos in China, the zoo can be reached directly by subway. It is recommended to bring your own food. The food inside is quite expensive. [Cost-effective] Tickets are very cheap and affordable. [Fun] You can interact with small animals. Giraffes, rabbits, monkeys, pandas, etc. [View] The scenery is beautiful and very good. Welcome everyone.
Beijing Zoo is really worth it. Who doesn't want to see the true face of Xizhimen San Prince Menglan? ! Finally, there is a chance to go to Beijing Zoo to see the giant pandas and cute animals. 🔶 Introduction Beijing Zoo is located on Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing. There are really many cute animal friends here. It is said that Beijing Zoo was built in Qingguangxu 32 years ago, and it is really a very historical zoo. 📍 Address: No. 137 Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 🚇 Transportation: Beijing Metro Line 4 Daxing Line Zoo Station Exit B, 692 meters walk 🎫 Tickets: Beijing Zoo Adult Ticket 15 yuan Beijing Zoo Ticket + Giant Panda Hall Adult Ticket: 19 yuan 🏞 Environment: Beijing Zoo has beautiful scenery, The animals are so cute.