nature

Nature in Beijing

Beijing surprises as a city of nature. Amid dense urban fabric, oases open up that have existed for centuries. Beihai Park was an imperial private garden and is now one of China's oldest public parks — in the evening, pagodas reflect off the still water. Jingshan Park, directly north of the Forbidden City, offers the best rooftop view across Beijing and is surrounded by peony fields in spring. At Houhai Lake the city's pace slows perceptibly: boats, willows, quiet. These parks are not recreational facilities — they are the breathing core of a city that has long known it needs them.

14 places · Beijing, China · Editorially curated