Ritan Park
Ritan park, one of the oldest parks in Beijing, is an oasis of tranquility in a busy embassy area of the city. This 200 hectare park, originally built as a sacrificial altar, was opened to the public in the 1970s and provides a wonderful refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. ...
Ritan park, one of the oldest parks in Beijing, is an oasis of tranquility in a busy embassy area of the city. This 200 hectare park, originally built as a sacrificial altar, was opened to the public in the 1970s and provides a wonderful refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. Perfect for strolling or just finding a bench to enjoy some greenery, the park features numerous traditional gardens, rock features and a beautiful lotus garden.
Ritan Park is also a great place for outdoor enthusiasts as there is a rock-climbing facility, fishing, a yoga studio, a miniature golf course, and numerous open spaces for playing badmington and other games. For the less active, there are one or two laid back coffee shops and restaurants, as well as the quaint Stone Boat bar, which has an outdoor area that looks out directly onto a lake. Stone Boat also hosts live music, usually jazz.
Botanical Gardens and Wofosi Temple
The Wofosi Temple, also known as the Temple of the Sleeping or Reclining Buddha, is one of the more peaceful temples in Beijing. Nestled at the top end of the Botanical Gardens, the temple is quite similar to the Lama Temple, another of Beijing’s well-known Buddhist Temples. The Wofosi Temple contains 4 pavilions connected by interleading courtyards, culminating in a 54 ton bronze statue of the Buddha lying on his side, reclining and/or sleeping. A large number of benches scattered about the Temple’s grounds are perfect for enjoying some peace and quiet while marvelling at cypress trees and the hills in the background.
Plan to make this a day trip as you’ll also want to spend some time exploring and enjoying the tranquility of the Botanical Gardens. The entrance fee for the Botanical Gardens is 5 Yuan, however once inside you’ll pay an additional fee to visit some of the other attractions. The Wofosi Temple costs 5 Yuan and the huge indoor tropical garden will set you back 50 Yuan, so it makes more sense to get an all-inclusive ticket for 50 yuan. The grounds of the Botanical Gardens are big, 400 hectares, and whilst you may not have the time or energy to explore the entire area, some of the outdoor gardens well worth visiting include the peony tree garden, the rose garden, the ornamental peach garden, and the Japanese garden which has an impressive collection of bonsais.
The Botanical Gardens/Wofosi Temple is situated in the northwestern outskirts of the city near the Fragrant Hills. The area is about an hour drive from the city center. There are a number of other attractions in the area for nature lovers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, namely Fragrant Hills Park (Xiangshan) and the Temple of the Azure Clouds.
How to get there:
Getting there by taxi will take close to an hour and cost anything between 60 and 90 Yuan.
The buses that stop at the Gardens are: 331, 904, 737, 714, 833, 733, 318, 360.
ake 331、904、737 or Yuntong 112 to Beijing Botanical Garden or Wofosi temple. Take 360、318、714、733 and 66 to Beijing Botanical Garden and walk toward north for 200 meters.
