As one of the biggest parks in Beijing, Yuyuantan provides a safe haven from the bustling urban Beijing. Its natural beauty is particularly enhanced if you go in April and May, the right time to witness the Cherry Blossoms the park is famous for.
Near the park are two landmarks of Beijing, the Millennium Monument and the Beijing World Art Museum. In this short and pleasurable walk, you will witness history, art, and the natural beauty which Beijing offers.
Subway Station ¨C Military Museum Metro Station
We begin our walk at the Military Museum metro station, which you can reach by take Subway Line #1.
Exit the station to the north, such as using Exit A for instance. You should see a traffic light to the west. Walk to the intersection. Turn right, and you will see the Millennium Monument in the distance. It should take you five minutes to reach it.
China Millennium Monument
The China Millennium monument, which rests above the Beijing World Art Museum, was built in the year 2000 to welcome the new millennium.
It has since become a top tourist attraction for its combination of traditional Chinese culture and modern architectural elegance.
When standing on top, you may feel the rotation monument surface rotating. It completes one full rotation per day.
Be sure not to miss the Plaza of Holy Fire at the southern entrance. The fire flame symbolizes the first time on record man used fire. The discovery was made at the site of the Peking man, at Zhoukoudian, in Beijing county.
The Peking Man, which dates back over 500,000 years, was a significant find: it is one of the earliest homo erectus (upright man). The Peking Man was found to have used fire as well as simple tools.
The fire at the museum now celebrates his use of fire. This tool provided light, defense against beasts, and the ability to cook food. All of which helped improve evolution into the modern man. The commemorative ever burning flame rises some 18 inches high. It is an homage to the unceasing creativity of the Chinese civilization.
Beijing World Art Museum
For RMB 30 per person, the Beijing World Art Museum offers exhibitions from around the world. Past exhibitions included artwork from the Ancient Egypt, from Rome, and from Greece. During my visit, the museum displays 19 century European paintings of the Simon collection, which would last until June 8, 2008.
The Millennium Bell
Continue forward to reach the entrance of Yuyuantan Park. But there¡¯ is also something neat to be observed in the neighborhood park to the east - as I walked around, I accidentally ran into the Millennium Bell.
Built in 1999, this 50- ton bell welcomed the new millennium with a big bang!
Yuyuantan Park
Yuyuantan Park - Entrance
Behind the China Millenium Monument lies Yuyuantan Park, famous for its size, beautiful scenery, and gorgeous lake. During springtime, it is also known as the best place in Beijing to enjoy cherry blossoms.
I was lucky enough to visit it in April and caught the blossoming flowers.
A ticket cost 10 RMB, which comes with a map of the park. Although the map is not in English, the park paths are well-defined so you won¡¯t get lost. Enter through the south gate.
Yuyuantan ¨C South Side
Inside was a beautiful sight. Children were flying kites along the lake, young lovebirds were having picnics under trees, and the elderly were practicing calligraphy on the ground with water brushes. Many also chose to ride a boat. Boat rental prices range from 50 RMB to 100 RMB per hour.
Yuyuantan attracts all kinds of wildlife, like pied magpie, corbie, hickwall, and mandarin duck. In the winter of 1980, 4 mute swans, rarely seen in Beijing, rested on the unfrozen lake in Yuyantan. Local citizens were very excited, and repeatedly visited the park to see them. The swans¡¯ arrival added much brightness to the colorless cold winter, but also attracted a vicious hunting plot of hunters. Two hunters hid in the park until dark to shot the beautiful creatures. One swan died, two flew away, and one, the spouse of the dead swan, mourned all the night for its passing partner.
This incident caused an uproar with the locals, and eventually helped facilitate many nature-friendly measures in parks today like man-made nests, hunting ban, and environment-friendly chemical treatments.
Yuyuantan Park ¨C North Side
In this enormous park, you will not only become enamored with the natural scenery, but also with the cultural spots. I took a short rest under the shades of an eight-sided Chinese pavilion near the entrance. After that, I crossed a traditional arch bridge to the north side.
Immediately after crossing the bridge, you will see were many stalls selling various kinds of souvenirs with Chinese features: scroll paintings, Buddha beads, gourd hangings, and sesame cakes. Prices are reasonable, but could be bargained further.
The Cherry Blossom Garden is located in the northwest part of the park, just left of the bridge. You can find the guidepost to the garden easily.
This garden came into existence in the 1970s, when over 2,000 cherry trees were transplanted here from Japan as a token of friendship between the two countries.
Today, some 3000 cherry trees grow here.
Continue further and you will arrive at the west exit of the park.
How to Return
Should you exit west, a 10- minute southward stroll will take you to the Gongzhufen subway station on of Line #1. You can also take a cab back.
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