Daxing Riverside Forest Park

Daxing Riverside Forest Park

Daxing New City Riverside Forest Park is located in the core area of Daxing New City and covers a sizable area of 8,074 mu. The park is divided into two sections—north and south. The northern part was formerly Qingyuan Park, while the southern part was Niantan Park. Qingyuan Park mainly consists of various types of woodlands. Unless you’re a botany enthusiast, you won’t be able to distinguish between different species within the same genus or family, so it’s not recommended for you to visit that area. The endless expanse of similar-looking green can get dull after a while. The southern Niantan Park, on the other hand, has water features and recreational facilities, and is better developed overall. So you might as well enter directly from the park’s south gate, head toward the water, and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

As soon as you enter the park from the south gate, you’ll be greeted by vast stretches of green that overwhelm the eyes. Without having to go all the way to a northern swamp, you can still feast your eyes on a sea of reeds that evoke a sense of boundlessness. The wetland area in the park is about 150 mu, and it’s mostly planted with reeds and pickerelweed, which grow nearly as tall as a person above the water’s surface. The park has thoughtfully designed cement steps that extend into the reed beds. By carefully descending from the main path onto these steps, you can venture deep into the reeds.

A camera capable of capturing black-and-white images is essential for a visit here. As you walk deeper into the wetland along the steps, strike a pose—either bowing your head or facing the wind—as the reeds sway and bend in the breeze, and you’ll effortlessly channel an artistic vibe. When the two rows of short street lamps by the reed beds light up in the evening, taking a stroll along the wetland offers a serene experience of nature’s vastness, which is quite relaxing. A friendly reminder: wetlands generally don’t smell very pleasant, so if you’re sensitive to musty odors, you might want to think twice.

Daxing New City Riverside Forest Park has plenty of play facilities for children. If you live in Xicheng or Nancheng districts, then lucky you—it’s only about a half-hour drive from the city center. It’s a great choice to bring your kids or just your inner child here for fun on the weekends. Compared to many parks that offer either dangerous or overly pricey amusement rides, this one—with the exception of boat rentals—provides not only free but also wholesome entertainment options.

Near the south gate, there’s a small playground featuring slides, swings, and more. We recommend the wide alloy slide—it has a steep slope and is thrilling, perfect for kids to lie down on while sliding. A bit further along is the extremely popular water play area, where you’ll find mini inflatable bumper boats in a pool, a large sandy area for building sandcastles, and even seasonal summer sculptures like flower-shaped and mushroom-shaped water sprayers. These activities are especially refreshing and allow for imaginative storytelling—much more fun than simply running around in a musical fountain. If you love nature, you can also check out the tadpoles and small fish by the small lake, though fishing or catching them isn’t recommended.

Location of the Attraction

Yihexiang, Daxing District, Beijing