Magnolias and wild peaches are blooming one after another—Beijing’s most beautiful spring has finally arrived! Better late than never, here’s a comprehensive guide to Beijing’s 2026 blooming seasons, complete with locations and dates. Don’t miss the pear blossoms at Zhihua Temple and the magnolias at Wanshou Temple—they’re absolutely stunning!
Best Places to View Flowers in Beijing
The Forbidden City
Here’s a natural, elegant, and accurate English translation for your travel copy:In the second half of March, the stars are the pear blossoms at the Hall of Heavenly Purity (Chengqian Palace).
The pear trees here are quite old. When they bloom, there are hardly any leaves—just pure white blossoms covering the branches like snow.
Against the vermilion palace walls and golden glazed tiles, these simple, elegant flowers create a timeless tranquility that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
From late March to early April, it’s the turn of the Xifu crabapple blossoms at the Hall of Literary Splendor (Wenhua Palace).
The crabapple flowers are graceful; when the wind blows, their petals dance lightly, fragrant and gorgeous.
I recommend you visit during these two separate periods to experience the royal spring scenery shifting from pure simplicity to splendid elegance.If you want, I can make this version even shorter for social media.
Further reading:【2025 Beijing Forbidden City One-Day Tour】Ticket Reservations, Panoramic Views, and Travel Guide
The Summer Palace
From late March to April, the West Causeway is blanketed in blooming mountain peach blossoms, while willow trees sprout fresh shoots. Pink peach blossoms and tender green willow branches are reflected in Kunming Lake, embellished by ancient bridges. This scene perfectly recreates the Jiangnan ambiance of "red peach blossoms and green willows".
If you prefer an elegant vibe, visit Leshou Hall in mid‑March to admire the white magnolias. The flowers are large, with thick petals and a rich fragrance, appearing exceptionally graceful against the lake and mountains.
The areas near Changguan Hall and the Jade Belt Bridge are also great spots for viewing flowers and taking photos. They are less crowded, making them ideal for a leisurely stroll.
Further reading:【The Old Summer Palace Guide】Includes a 3-Hour Leg-Saving Route and Stamp Collection Strategy
National Botanical Garden (formerly Beijing Botanical Garden)
In mid-to-late March, the mountain peach blossom stream to the west of the Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall is a must-visit. The stream flows with falling petals, full of poetic beauty.
For magnolias, head to the north side of the Arboretum; they are in full bloom from mid-March to early April.
In late March, cherry blossoms and tulips bloom one after another, enriching the scenery with vibrant colors.
If you only come in April, go straight to see the flowering peaches, plums, followed by crabapples, lilacs, peonies and herbaceous peonies. This area has the widest variety of flowers, perfect for those who want to see all kinds of blooms in one trip.
Yuyuantan Park
When it comes to cherry blossoms in Beijing, Yuyuantan Park is a must-mention.
From late March to early April every year, early-blooming cherry varieties such as Hangzhou Early Cherry and Oyama Cherry blossom first, light and graceful.
In mid-April, famous late-blooming varieties like Somei Yoshino cherry come into bloom, and the whole park seems to be enveloped in pink clouds.
Tiantan Park
In early March, the winter jasmine at the Northeast Outer Altar is the first to announce the arrival of spring. Soon after, the forsythia near the Double-Ring Pavilion blooms into a vast sea of golden yellow.
Yet nothing is more breathtaking than the February orchids beneath the ancient cypresses in the Hall of Abstinence. Covering an area of 200,000 square meters, the purple flowers spread among the sturdy ancient cypresses. Their humble yet vibrant vitality instantly calms the heart.
In April, lilacs on the west side of the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvests come into full bloom. Clouds of white and purple flowers float beside the red walls.
Don’t forget to visit the apricot forest dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It is the largest one inside the Fifth Ring Road, full of ancient charm.
Beijing World Flower Expo
Early March marks the start of the flowering season with winter jasmine blossoms.
Afterwards, magnolias, plums, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms bloom one after another.
From late March to April, tulips, cherry blossoms and crabapples reach their full bloom.
The biggest advantage here is the large greenhouse.
Even when it is still cold outside, the inside is warm like spring, with tropical and subtropical flowers blooming in succession.
It is suitable for visiting with the elderly and children.
You can enjoy the spring scenery outdoors as well as the comfortable constant temperature indoors.
Ming City Wall Ruins Park
This is a unique spot to admire plum blossoms in the capital.
From March to April, nearly a thousand plum trees of over 50 varieties bloom at the foot of the ancient city wall. The mottled bricks set off the proud, unyielding plum blossoms, creating a beauty that blends historical vicissitudes with vibrant life, making it perfect for photos.
Besides plum blossoms, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, forsythia and magnolias are also in full bloom at the same time. Surrounded by the city wall, they form a colorful historical painting, ideal for those who love cultural photography.
Zizhuyuan Park
Zizhuyuan Park is famous for its water scenery, which endows the spring flowers here with extra grace and vitality.
In early March, you can still catch the last blooms of wintersweet.
From mid-March onward, golden cornelian cherries, delicate pink mountain peaches, vivid flowering peaches and pure white magnolias glow beautifully by the water.
Starting in April, crabapples and lilacs reach their best viewing season and can be found throughout the park.
Compared with other popular parks, it is quieter and more serene here.It is perfect for taking a boat ride or walking along the lake, watching flower shadows swaying in the water, and enjoying the leisure of “Boating on the green waves, one wanders in a painting”.
Taoranting Park
Spring in Taoranting Park begins with the golden winter jasmine beside the Shengchun Shanfang and at Baochun Pavilion, blooming until early April.
From late March to April, the park’s crabapple flower show is the highlight. With a wide variety of Xifu crabapples and modern crabapple varieties, the flowers bloom in full splendor.
For peach blossom lovers, you can visit the outer area of the Rose Garden and the Famous Chinese Pavilions Garden from mid-March to mid-April, where mountain peaches and flowering peaches are in full bloom.
In late April, the peonies of celestial beauty will bloom one after another. Their layered petals are particularly dazzling in the sunlight.
Longtan Lake Park
From late March to April, the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, with pink and white flowers covering the branches.
In April, the sea of crabapple flowers in the park attracts a large number of visitors, and the scale is quite impressive.
In addition, magnolias, forsythias, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms also bloom one after another during this period.
The lake and flowers here match perfectly. Whether you go jogging along the lake or sit on a bench to relax, you can feel the strong atmosphere of spring.
Zhongshan Park
Zhongshan Park boasts two unmissable highlights in spring.
From mid-March to early April, it is an ideal time to appreciate plum blossoms.
Simple and elegant, the plum blossoms complement the buildings of the Imperial Sacrificial Altar perfectly.
In April, the scene changes completely. Thousands of tulips burst into gorgeous bloom, forming a colorful sea of flowers — the biggest spring highlight of the park.
Pinggu District “Peach Blossom Festival”
If you want to see a real sea of flowers, you must go to Pinggu.
It is home to tens of thousands of mu of peach orchards. The annual Peach Blossom Festival held every spring presents a spectacular sight.
This is not just a few scattered trees for decoration, but an overwhelming pink ocean covering the entire mountainous area.
Overlooking from high ground, the visual impact is incomparable to that of urban parks.
It is perfect for a self-driving trip with picturesque scenery along the way, making it an ideal place to experience the spring beauty of the land.
Horticultural Expo Park (Yanqing)
As the former venue of the International Horticultural Exhibition, the park here is vast and boasts an extremely rich variety of flowers.
From March to April, mountain peaches, apricot blossoms, winter jasmine, lilacs, irises, hyacinths and many other flowers bloom in succession.
It is an ideal place not only for viewing flowers, but also for spring outings and camping.
Laba Gou Primeval Forest (Huairou)
This is not a carefully manicured park, but a wild, primitive forest. Although it is not a typical flower-viewing spot, azaleas, wild mountain peaches, wild apricots and other flowers bloom naturally in the mountains during spring.
Walking along the trails, you may occasionally come across clusters of unnamed wildflowers or mountainsides covered in azaleas. This unpolished natural beauty is especially suitable for visitors who enjoy hiking and exploring nature. With fresh air and authentic scenery, it is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Miaofeng Mountain (Mentougou)
Miaofeng Mountain is most famous for its sea of roses in early May, but a visit in March and April is also well worth it.
Before the roses bloom, many wild flowers on the mountain come into blossom quietly.Along the hiking trail, you may occasionally come across clusters of blooming wildflowers.
Coupled with the fresh mountain breeze and distant views, it offers a unique charm.
It is perfect for those who enjoy hiking and fitness, while taking in the natural scenery.
Lihua Village, Liulihe Town, Fangshan District
Late March marks the highlight of Lihua Village in Fangshan District.
Boasting a thousand mu of pear trees, when they all burst into bloom at once, the spotless white flowers blanket the earth like snow, creating an extremely spectacular scene.
The poetic sight of "Thousands of trees burst into pear blossoms" is truly brought to life here.
Juyongguan Great Wall S2 Line: The Train to Spring
This is probably the most poetic way to travel.
Take the Suburban Railway Line S2 from Huangtudian Station towards Badaling.
The train runs at the foot of the Juyongguan Great Wall. Outside the window, you can see mountains covered with mountain peach and apricot blossoms, with the ancient wall looming among the flowers.
The best viewing period is from late March to early April.
For a better view, you are advised to sit on the right side in the direction the train is moving.
This is not just a commute, but a moving flower-viewing journey.
Hiking Around Juyongguan in Changping
Besides taking the train, the trails around the Juyongguan Great Wall in Changping are also great places to view flowers.
Hiking along the paths at the foot of the Great Wall, you’ll see the towering wall above you and blooming mountain peaches and apricot blossoms below.
The view here is more flexible than that from the train, allowing you to take close-up photos of the flowers together with the wall.
From late March to early April, there are fewer visitors here compared to parks in the urban area, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy flowers quietly and experience the blend of history and nature.
Further reading:【Juyongguan Great Wall】The Mightiest Pass Under Heaven—A Step-by-Step Guide to Juyongguan Great Wall
