Haidian Park

Haidian Park

Haidian Park was built on the site of the former imperial garden Changchun Garden, one of the "Three Hills and Five Gardens." It inherits the natural and elegant style of Changchun Garden.

The park covers an area of approximately 34 hectares, including 20 hectares of landscaped gardens and 2.8 hectares of water bodies. It features over ten scenic areas such as the Sound of Books at Tao Yuan, the Jade of Wanquan Spring, the Clear Waves of Danling, the Poetic Charm of Shuangqiao, the Fragrance of Imperial Rice, the View of Crops from Ancient Pavilions, the Immortal Catching Dew, and the Flower Valley of Dian Garden. The park has planted over 600,000 landscape plants of 75 species, including cedar, Chinese pine, Qiantou catalpa, silk tree, ginkgo, and peach blossom. The park’s 30,000-square-meter walkable evergreen lawn is the largest of its kind in Beijing. With an exterior of grandeur and an interior of simplicity, the park blends luxury with understated elegance, earning it the nickname “the emperor in plain clothes” from experts.

Tracing back in history, the western suburbs were located at the junction of the Western Hills and the plains, characterized by rolling hills and abundant groundwater. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, this area was dotted with springs and streams, set against the lush backdrop of the Western Hills. With its layered peaks, clear waters, and beautiful mountains, it resembled the water towns of the south or an oasis beyond the Great Wall. Literati and artists from the capital often visited to compose poetry and paintings, leaving behind numerous works praising the scenery. The famous Ming dynasty painter and calligrapher Wen Zhengming wrote, “Ten miles of green hills unfold like a painting, a pair of white birds fly as if in the south of the Yangtze.” Cao Xueqin’s grandfather, a renowned literary figure, once wrote movingly, “Wild geese are driven by the west wind, but people are captivated by the Western Hills.” The Qing scholar Wu Changyuan described the area in his book *Chenyuan Shilue*: “Streams flow everywhere, some into wastelands, some hidden in grassy paths, some scattered among the dust. In spring and summer, clear skies, green trees, fragrant flowers, and birdsong abound; in autumn, red leaves drift everywhere; in winter, snow blankets the land in white.” This vividly depicts the naturally formed, enchanting scenery that delights the soul. For these reasons, the area became the top choice for building imperial gardens in the capital at the time.

Haidian Park

In the 29th year of the Kangxi reign (1690), the construction of the entire garden was completed and it was officially named “Changchun Garden,” symbolizing “spring all year round,” “the eight winds paying homage,” and “the six qi flowing smoothly.” According to an official who once saw Changchun Garden: “The walls are not even ten feet high, the gardens are lush and vibrant, with red flowers in full bloom. The earthen mounds are gentle, without any peculiar peaks or strange rocks. The pavilions and corridors are simple and unadorned, without elaborate carvings or paintings.” This shows that although Changchun Garden was an imperial garden, it retained an overall natural and elegant character. After its completion, Emperor Kangxi loved the garden and visited it every year to live and handle state affairs.

In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), the Anglo-French Allied Forces invaded Beijing. After burning down the Old Summer Palace, they looted and destroyed the surrounding imperial gardens on a large scale. Changchun Garden was the first to suffer, with all its buildings burned to the ground.

In 2004, Haidian Park was designated as one of Beijing’s first emergency shelters. The park’s emergency evacuation routes, shelter areas, helipads, toilets, lighting, and water supply facilities will play a crucial role in disaster prevention, refuge, and rescue during sudden public crises such as earthquakes and fires.

Today, the only remaining relics of the ancient Changchun Garden site are the northeastern boundary marker of Changchun Garden and the two mountain gates of Enyou Temple and Enmu Temple. These two mountain gates were listed as cultural heritage protection units of Haidian District in June 1984.

As an ideal venue for experiencing high-quality leisure life and hosting various large-scale cultural performances and events, Haidian Park has established its image as a “technology, humanity, and ecology” theme park, which has been widely recognized by the public. It has garnered extensive attention and praise from domestic and international visitors, as well as numerous partners and media outlets. With the care and support of the Haidian District government and all sectors of society, Haidian Park plays an increasingly significant role in promoting the cultural, educational, tourism, and regional economic development of Haidian District.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

8:00–20:00

Location

Northwest corner of Wanquanhe Overpass on the Northwest Fourth Ring Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development