The finest season of the year is spring,Far surpassing the imperial city's willow-lined streets.If I could recommend just one vantage point overlooking the Forbidden City,It would undoubtedly be the Wanchun Pavilion in Jingshan Park.
Heard you're eager to visit Jingshan Park and experience the wonder of “surveying six centuries from one garden”?We've compiled an ultimate guide—packed with historical tales, sightseeing routes, and hidden gems.Get ready to dive in!
Jingshan Park is no ordinary park! It served as the imperial garden for the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, boasting over 800 years of history.
Its most famous tale revolves around the ancient locust tree where Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself during the late Ming dynasty's turmoil (the original tree is gone, replaced by a commemorative marker).
Standing at the foot of the hill and gazing upward, one can almost hear history whispering in the wind.
Jingshan Park Admission Ticket:
1. Ticket Purchase:
No reservation required; tickets available online and offline. Manual ticket counters and QR code scanners are available at the East, West, and South entrances.
Ticket Booking: Trip
2. Pricing:
Adults: ¥2. Free admission for seniors aged 60+, children aged 6 and under, and children under 1.2 meters tall. Half-price tickets for students with undergraduate degrees or below. See the mini-program for other discounts. This ticket price is incredibly affordable! Note: During the Peony Festival, prices adjust to ¥10 for full-price tickets and ¥5 for half-price tickets.
3. Opening Hours:
High Season (April 1 to October 31): 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Low Season (November 1 to March 31): 6:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Entry closes half an hour before closing time. Tickets are divided into four time slots; visitors must enter with ID verification before their designated slot ends.
No additional tickets are required for attractions within the park:
Shouhuang Hall, Guande Hall, and Huogu Zhongyi Temple: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Entry closes half an hour before closing. Closed Mondays (except national holidays).
Jingshan Park Transportation:
The park has three entrances/exits: South, East, and West. Corresponding bus routes are:
South Gate (opposite the Forbidden City's Shenwu Gate): Routes 101, 103, 109, 124, 68, 58 to Forbidden City Station;
East Gate (Jingshan East Street): Routes 111, 124, 58 to Jingshan East Gate Station;
West Gate (opposite Beihai Park East Gate): Routes 5, 58 to Xibanqiao Station.
Subway: Line 8 - National Art Museum of China Station (Northwest Exit A) or Line 6 - Dongsi Station (Northwest Exit E), followed by a short walk.
Recommended Tour Routes:
In-Depth Tour (2 hours)
Route 1: Enter via South Gate → Fulan Pavilion → Jifang Pavilion → Wanchun Pavilion → Guanmiao Pavilion → Zhushang Pavilion → Descend via Pathway → Shouhuang Hall → Chongzhen Emperor's Martyrdom Site → Exit via East Gate (proceed to Wangfujing for dining and shopping)
This route avoids backtracking, offering both panoramic views of the Forbidden City's golden glazed tiles and an immersive experience of imperial sacrificial rituals.
Route 2: Enter via South Gate → Chongzhen Emperor's Martyrdom Site → Shouhuang Hall → Ascend the Path → Zhou Shang Pavilion → Guanmiao Pavilion → Wanchun Pavilion → Jifang Pavilion → Fulan Pavilion → Exit via West Gate (West Gate is closer to Beihai Park and Shichahai, ideal for those wishing to explore nearby attractions afterward)
Quick Tour (30 minutes)
Route 3 (30 minutes): Enter through South Gate—Chongzhen Emperor's Martyrdom Site—Ascend the Path—Zhou Shang Pavilion → Guanmiao Pavilion → Wanchun Pavilion → Descend the Path → Exit through West Gate
Route 4 (15 minutes): West Gate Entrance → Trail Ascent → Fulan Pavilion → Jifang Pavilion → Wanchun Pavilion → Guanmiao Pavilion → Zhoushang Pavilion → Trail Descent → East Gate Exit
Must-Visit Spots at Jingshan Park
Spring Season Exclusive Views
Wanchun Pavilion 360° Panoramic Deck
Wanchun Pavilion offers the prime viewing spot. Only when standing here, overlooking the entire Forbidden City, can you truly grasp its grandeur—the panorama in all four directions is breathtaking.
East: China World Trade Center CBD trio
South: Forbidden City, Great Hall of the People, National Centre for the Performing Arts
West: White Pagoda at Beihai Park, CCTV Tower
North: Hall of Eternal Life, Bell and Drum Towers, Olympic Tower
Tips: Wanchun Pavilion is the highest point (viewing platform) on Jingshan Hill, offering the best panoramic views. However, the platform gets extremely crowded. For portrait shots with the Forbidden City in the background, timing is crucial.
The Shouhuang Hall's Red Walls and Shadows
The Shouhuang Hall Ancient Architectural Complex: Constructed during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Shouhuang Hall boasts nearly 300 years of history. It enshrines portraits and memorial tablets of eight generations of Qing emperors and empresses.
The Hall of the Long-Lived Emperor comprises two courtyards, inner and outer. The main hall, in particular, features a glazed yellow tile roof with a gabled hall structure. Spanning 20 meters in width and 4.2 meters in depth, its red walls and golden tiles create a majestic presence that rivals the Forbidden City.
At 4 PM, the slanting sunlight casts a warm glow upon the vermilion gate. Whether dressed in Hanfu or modern attire, you can capture cinematic-quality photos here. Inside the hall, the exhibition even features calligraphy personally inscribed by Emperor Kangxi!
Hidden Gem: The Spring Blossom Wonderland at the Science Pavilion
Step into the Science Pavilion at Jingshan Park, and it feels like you've crossed the boundaries of seasons—here, a winter wonderland of spring blossoms unfolds!
Each flower seems like a surprise meticulously arranged by nature, waiting for you to discover!
Large peonies, with their majestic beauty, defy the winter chill and bloom proudly! Each petal radiates resilience and grace, compelling visitors to pause and lose themselves in this unexpected beauty.
Beyond peonies, a vibrant array of flowers compete to bloom—red as fire, yellow as sunshine, pink like dawn...
Tips: After entering through the West Gate of Jingshan Park, turn left directly into the Science Pavilion. No additional ticket purchase or reservation is required for the Science Pavilion.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Guide to Getting Official Stamps
Forbidden Summit Fortune Pavilion (South Gate): Enter through the south gate and turn left. You'll find a heavy seal offering a complimentary stamp, plus 16 stamps available for purchase.
Forbidden Summit Cultural Pavilion (East Gate): Features the same complimentary stamp as the south gate, but with much clearer imprints. Additional stamps are available for purchase.
“One hill, half the Ming and Qing dynasties.” This spring, come to Jingshan to collect your own imperial memories.
Standing on the pavilions once gazed upon by ancient people, watching wax plum blossoms drift down, you'll discover: history can be this vivid and charming.
