Beijing’s Imperial Parks and Gardens
Beihai and Jingshan Park are two of the most famous and beautiful parks of Beijing. For centuries these former imperial gardens were off limits to commoners. Today, they are important historic landmarks as well as a gathering place for Beijingers. This walk blends imperial architecture, history, and local life in one three-hour experience. We’ll explore these parks and talk about how the emperors and their families enjoyed these spaces. We’ll also encounter local folks engaging in all kinds of activities from dancing to singing to martial arts. We’ll climb up Jingshan (about a 5- to 10-minute walk) and get a 360-degree view of the old city and visit Hortensia Island in Beihai Park to see some of the oldest existing artifacts in Beijing.
Duration: About three hours
Please note this walk involves climbing two sets of stairs (about a 5-10 minute climb for each set)
Upcoming Imperial Parks and Gardens Walking Tours
300 RMB per person (260 RMB for members of The Hutong)
Price includes all guide fees and tickets
Consider a Private Tour!
Looking for a walk that fits your schedule? Interested in a personal experience for you or your group?
Private historical walks of Beijing’s Imperial Parks and Gardens are available for individuals, families, school and company groups.
Private walks are 1800 RMB for up to five people and 180 RMB for each additional person. Price includes all guide fees and admission tickets.
What others have said...
“Fabulous, informative...Excellent guide, enriching experience!”
Your Walk Leader
Jeremiah Jenne is a writer and history teacher based in Beijing since 2002. He taught Late Imperial and Modern Chinese History for over 13 years and has written extensively on China for The Economist, South China Morning Post, Journal of Asian Studies, Asia Society/China File, Los Angeles Review of Books, Radii China, The Beijinger, and the World of Chinese. His work can be found in the anthologies China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance, The Insider’s Guide to Beijing, and the 2015 collection While We’re Here: China Stories from a Writer’s Colony. Jeremiah is frequently asked to speak or lead workshops on Chinese history, culture, and cultural adaptation for students, embassies, organizations, and company groups from around the world and is the proprietor of Beijing by Foot, which organizes educational programs and historic walking tours of Beijing’s most famous sites and hidden by-ways. You can follow him on Twitter @jeremiahjenne or online at jeremiahjenne.com.