Spring has (Finally) Sprung! Where to See Blossoms in Beijing

Although the days are still chilly and grey in Beijing, one thing that has already begun to arrive are blossoms. With the upcoming long weekend all thanks to the Qingming festival holiday, it's a great time to seek out those stunning cherry blossoms around Beijing.

Another good spot to go to avoid crowds, because it’s so large, is the Summer Palace. In spring you’ll find plenty of blossom tress spread around the lake, in the courtyards and on the hilltops. The Summer Palace is also a great place for viewing magnolia blossoms. Plus, as you walk around the park, you’ll be blessed with a pleasant whiff of their beautiful fragrance. 

Botanical Gardens

It should come as no surprise that Beijing’s Botanical Gardens are home to some of the capital's prettiest cherry blossoms. Along with these you can also experience peach blossoms and other springtime flowers such as tulips.

Given the large size of the Botanical Gardens this is a pretty good spot to avoid major crowds and completely immerse yourself in some of Beijing’s beautiful blooms. They also host an annual peach blossom festival, the date of which varies year to year.

If you’re looking for a more centrally-located park to enjoy the blossoms, then Beihai Park is the place for you! Just northwest of the Forbidden City, Beihai’s relatively large size means that even during the peak blossom period it shouldn’t get too crowded. A great idea is to rent one of the boats and take in the view of the White Dagoba surrounded by blossoms on the Jade Flowery Islet.

Jingshan Park not only has spectacular views of the Forbidden City, but is also home to over 20,000 peonies. These bloom a little later then cherry blossoms and are best viewed mid-April to early May, however they are a sight worth waiting for! Jingshan Park holds an annual Peony Festival during this time and you can enjoy over 560 different varieties of peony.

A beautiful place to visit no matter the time of year, the Temple of Heaven is especially pretty during spring when the lilac trees are in bloom. There are over 240 lilac trees in Temple of Heaven Park, making it the biggest lilac clove in Beijing. You can find the lilac clove by the Hall of Prayer.