Beijing Olympic Forest Park, with its blue skies stretching from the southern foot of Yangshan. Photo by He Jianyong
Wang Le > Text | He Jianyong/Wang Le > Photography
If there’s any chance for you as a Beijing resident to have an advantage over the rest of the nation, it’s running at Olympic Forest Park, because this naturally-formed running mecca, built with the momentum of the Olympics and backed by national resources, is something many runners from other regions still haven’t had the chance to enjoy. So, whenever I have out-of-town or foreign runners visit Beijing, aside from inviting them to meals, I always invite them to run at Olympic Forest Park.
Covering an area of 680 hectares, the Olympic Forest Park is the largest urban green landscape in Asia. It was completed on July 3, 2008, and is conveniently located right next to Metro Line 8, making it extremely accessible—you can step right out of the station and into the park. The park is divided into the South Park and the North Park. The South Park loop is 5 kilometers, while the North Park loop is 5.7 kilometers. The two are connected by an ecological corridor that spans the northern section of the Fifth Ring Road, bringing the total loop to 10.7 kilometers. When viewed from above, the north and south areas together form the shape of an “8,” while looking at it east-west gives a more philosophical symbol—the infinity sign “∞,” encouraging people to never stop moving.
After the Olympics, Olympic Forest Park was opened to the public for free. As you enter through the South Gate of the South Park, you’ll find a clear artificial lake, with Yangshan Mountain to the north. On a sunny day, it’s undoubtedly a natural landscape painting. The park is rich in vegetation, with fresh air, making it a rare super oxygen bar, perfect for outdoor activities. There are also many scenic spots throughout the park, including an artificial wetland. On weekends, you’ll see numerous photography enthusiasts coming here to capture scenes, and many couples choosing it as a backdrop for wedding photos.
For running lovers, Olympic Forest Park is definitely an ideal place—it’s large enough that many marathon enthusiasts use it for LSD (long slow distance, a long-distance running training term) training, running 20 to 30 kilometers and looping around the north and south parks two or three times. Now it’s the most popular gathering spot for running events among Beijing’s running community. Numerous running groups—or every single running group you can think of in Beijing—regularly come here to run. Any running group that hasn’t organized an event at Olympic Forest Park would feel almost too shy to talk about it.
For more experienced runners, the North Park is usually the preferred choice. Although the North Park doesn’t have a dedicated rubber track, the signage is clear and easy to follow. Most importantly, it’s much less crowded, allowing for a more unrestricted run. Among the running community, there’s an unspoken rule: whether or not you’ve run in the North Park is seen as a mark of professionalism. Because most runners leave their gear at the South Gate of the South Park, and since the subway doesn’t reach the North Park yet, going there means running a solid 10 kilometers right off the bat—this is a place reserved for those willing to go the extra distance.
Electric scooter rentals are only available at the South Park as well; if you want one in the North Park, you’ll have to rent again. So even during peak seasons, the North Park remains fairly uncrowded. Currently, Metro Line 8 has a Lincuiqiao Station near the northern section of the Fifth Ring Road, which is the closest metro stop to the North Park—but you still have to walk several hundred meters to reach the West Gate of the North Park. There’s only one passage (the ecological corridor) connecting the North and South Parks across the Fifth Ring Road. First-time visitors to the North Park can easily get lost, so it’s best to have an experienced runner take you around once to familiarize yourself with the environment.
Running Tips at Olympic Forest Park
1. The South Park of Olympic Forest Park has a 5-kilometer rubber track that loops all the way around. There are markings on the ground, as well as kilometer signs along the path. This kind of setup is considered quite luxurious even by international standards. If you’re a beginner, running here allows you to enjoy the scenery while protecting your knees from injury. If you don’t want to stick to the rubber track, you can cut across for a shorter lap of around 3 kilometers. The final few kilometers of the famous Beijing Marathon actually follow this shorter loop route.
2. It’s worth noting that Olympic Forest Park has many entrances, and the division between the North and South Parks can be confusing. Some gates are particularly hard to describe—for example, terms like “South Gate of the South Park” and “South Gate of the North Park” can be quite perplexing for first-timers. There aren’t many dining options around the park either. The closest places to eat are concentrated to the east, starting from Dadun North Road and heading east. You’ll know there are lots of restaurants when you start smelling the food. Alternatively, you can take the metro to Beitu Cheng and switch to Line 10—Mudanyuan area is another popular spot for runners to grab a bite.
3. Flying kites is not allowed in Olympic Forest Park, but there are still people who break the rules and fly kites near the South Gate. This can be quite dangerous. I’ve personally seen runners get caught by kite strings, and kids flying kites getting yanked and falling hard.
4. For regular visitors who just want to enjoy the scenery, Olympic Forest Park has rest stations at regular intervals, offering shelter from wind and rain. There are also vending kiosks at frequent intervals, and toilets are widely distributed. The park also offers electric scooter and multi-person bicycle rentals, as well as sightseeing vehicles to cater to various needs. The mountains and water in the park are great for camping, picnics, and even small cross-country races—the North Park has far more resources for this than the South Park. Recently, Olympic Forest Park also introduced new activities like boating. Near the entrance of the South Park, there’s also an amusement area suitable for families with children.