Right at home with flowers in Beijing

[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

Local residents enjoy the sun in a Beijing community, where flowers can be seen everywhere.

Beijing in bloom

Thanks to the high temperatures this spring, some flowers in Beijing, such as cherries and peach blossoms, have started to bloom early.

The Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks gives updates about different flowers in the 11 municipal parks every Friday so tourists can plan their itineraries. Parks have many kinds of flower festivals and services.

1. Yu yuantan Park

This park is well-known for having more than 20 species of cherry blossoms, which are in full blossom until late April. Visitors can take boats to enjoy fields of colorful flowers, such as geraniums and herb trinities, along the river banks.

Ticket fee: 10 yuan ($1.6) during the Cherry Blossoms Festival

Transport: Subway Line 1, Muxidi Station

2. Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park will begin its Peony Festival on April 15 to present more than 20,000 peonies belonging to 544 species. It's one of the most beautiful places to see the sunset and get a bird's-eye view of the Forbidden City.

Ticket fee: 10 yuan during the Peony Festival

Transport: Take buses 101, 103, 109, 68 or 58 to the Forbidden City

3. Beijing Botanical Garden

The garden boasts a variety of flowers, including peach and cherry blossoms. Visitors can stroll in the metasequoia forests to enjoy the flowers. An artificial mist makes the forest feel like a wonderland.

Ticket fee: 10 yuan during the Peach Flowers Festival

Transport: Take buses 331, 563 or 696 to the South Gate of the Beijing Botanical Garden