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How beautiful is Beijing in autumn? Lao She once said, "One must live in Beijing in autumn; there is nothing unsatisfactory about Beijing's autumn." Beijing in autumn feels like heaven, and the most beautiful scenery in heaven must include the golden ginkgo trees.
From late October to late November, a period of approximately 20 days, Beijing's ginkgo viewing season is at its peak. The city's many famous ginkgo avenues are breathtakingly beautiful. Yellow leaves, red walls, and blue skies create the hallmarks of autumn in Beijing. From mid-October to mid-November, a period of about 40 days, we visited more than a dozen places in Beijing to admire the colorful forests and red leaves, including Langfa City Forest Park, Juyongguan Great Wall, Zizhuyuan Park, Lianhuachi Park, Grand View Garden, Tianyuan Park, Taoranting Park, Old Summer Palace, Diaoyutai, Sanlitun East Fifth Street, Ditan Park, Lama Temple, Forbidden City, Fragrant Hills Park, Yuetan Park, Beigong Forest Park, Temple of Heaven Park, Jingshan Park, World Flower Garden, Caoqiao Scenic Area, and Wanshou Park (for details, please see my other work "Must-See Colorful Forests and Red Leaves in Beijing in Autumn").
We followed the footsteps of time and walked through the most beautiful ginkgo forests in Beijing one by one, visiting six of the most famous ginkgo avenues and ginkgo scenic spots in the capital: the Ginkgo Avenue in the Old Summer Palace, the Ginkgo Avenue in Diaoyutai, the Ginkgo Avenue in East Fifth Street of Sanlitun, the Ginkgo Avenue in Ditan Park, the Ginkgo Avenue in Yonghe Temple, the Ginkgo Avenue in Yuetan, as well as the large ginkgo forests in Tianyuan Park and Taoranting Park. Here is an introduction:
The ginkgo leaves outside Beijing turn yellow earlier than those inside. Golden ginkgo trees appeared at Juyongguan Pass in late October, but few formed large forests.
Ginkgo Forest in Tianyuan Park, November 2nd. Located in Lugouqiao Township, Fengtai District, the park boasts a large ginkgo grove, making it one of the most "interesting" ginkgo groves.
Tianyuan Park is a suburban park, unknown to many older Beijingers. However, its vast ginkgo grove is breathtakingly beautiful.
The ginkgo grove is located in Xuanqiu Garden. To say it's overwhelming seems a bit of an exaggeration. It's no less impressive than Beijing's most famous Ginkgo Avenue, Diaoyutai.
The trees in Tianyuan Park's ginkgo grove aren't very old, but their area is several times larger than Diaoyutai's.
We went at the perfect time, the ginkgo leaves were a brilliant yellow, very gorgeous.
As far as the eye can see, there are golden ginkgo leaves.
From a distance, the ground looks like a large golden carpet, which is particularly beautiful.
Many tourists wear or bring brightly colored clothes to the ginkgo forest to have fun.
Because fallen ginkgo leaves aren't cleaned up, the roads are covered in golden color. Stepping on the golden leaves makes a crisp sound, and the eyes are filled with the opportunity to capture beautiful moments.
The golden color covering the trees and the ground transforms Tianyuan Park into a golden dreamland. There are no buildings or service facilities around the ginkgo forest. Many tourists rode their shared bikes directly into the ginkgo forest.
The ginkgo forest has become a 360-degree photography paradise with no blind spots.
Taoranting Park is located northwest of Taoran Bridge on the South Second Ring Road in Beijing. The park boasts two ginkgo groves, one of which is considered to be "scenic and picturesque."
The Taoranting Ginkgo Forest is mainly concentrated in the Tanying Liujin Scenic Area. Here is a beautiful ginkgo forest. Although it is not very large, it is located by the lake and has a beautiful scenery.
The lush, tall ginkgo trees of Taoranting are surrounded by a winding stream filled with fallen leaves, creating a unique feeling of flowing water and small bridges.
The golden leaves floating on the lake are particularly eye-catching in the sunlight, contrasting with the green lawn.
Although the ginkgo forest by the lake is surrounded by iron railings, it still cannot stop tourists from climbing over the railings and entering the ginkgo forest. There is also a small ginkgo forest near the south gate of Taoranting Park.
The ginkgo tree at the south gate is particularly bright under the sunlight.
The Old Summer Palace is located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. Its Ginkgo Avenue is located at the junction of the three parks. It is about a kilometer long and can be called the "longest" Ginkgo Avenue.
Entering from the south gate of the Old Summer Palace, from Qichun Garden to Fuhai, there is a long Ginkgo Avenue, as famous as the summer lotus. The avenue is wide and stretches for nearly a kilometer, with hundreds of ginkgo trees standing neatly on both sides. More than 200 ginkgo trees, each over 30 years old, await visitors.
More than 200 ginkgo trees, each over 30 years old, await visitors.
The autumn wind blows, golden leaves pave the road, blue sky, red walls, fallen leaves, and vines create a beautiful autumn scene.
Ginkgo Avenue seems to have no end in sight.
Tourists who visit the Old Summer Palace ruins are all tempted by the charming scenery. The red vines on the wall and the golden ginkgo trees complement each other beautifully.
The red vines on the wall and the golden ginkgo trees complement each other beautifully.
Located outside the east wall of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Sanlihe Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue is approximately 800 meters long and is a landmark of Beijing's ginkgo trees, arguably the most prestigious of all.
The most popular spot for viewing ginkgo trees every year is definitely Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue! This is Beijing's oldest and most famous place for viewing ginkgo trees.
Because it was the weekend, this was the most crowded Ginkgo Avenue.
The straight Ginkgo Avenue was filled with people, young and old admiring the apricot leaves, photographers with their cameras, and painters with their sketchpads, becoming a part of the forest scenery.
It is said that the ginkgo trees here were among the first to be planted in Beijing, and are denser and stronger than those in Ditan Park.
Looking up, people—photographers, wedding photographers, strollers, ginkgo nut pickers, and pet walkers—are immersed in this beautiful scene, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
The grassy ground beneath the trees is covered in thick, golden leaves, and the ginkgo trees are golden when you look up.
Walking among them, you can feel the soft fallen leaves under your feet, the rustling sound of the wind in your ears, and golden petals fluttering around you.
Located in Beijing's embassy district, the avenue is approximately 500 meters long and is considered the most "fashionable" of the Ginkgo Avenues, often visited by handsome foreigners. To enter this Ginkgo Avenue, you must have your ID card checked by the guards before entering.
On both sides of here are the embassies of Turkey, Zaire, Denmark, Argentina, Cameroon, Switzerland and Mexico. Compared with the bustling park attractions, this place seems much more serious, and the guards on duty will watch your every move. Due to its unique geographical location, it is sparsely populated and has few cars. It is one of the best places to appreciate ginkgo trees and experience the tranquility of autumn. It is truly a rare pure land in Beijing.
The tall ginkgo trees on both sides of the road, with lush branches and leaves, shimmered golden in the sunlight, as if from a fairy tale world.
The Ginkgo Avenue on East Fifth Street in Sanlitun, coupled with the exotic buildings, is incredibly beautiful.
The quietness makes the ginkgo trees even more beautiful here. Strolling along Sanlitun East Fifth Street feels like stepping into the finale of a movie.
Because it was the weekend and we were off work, it was rare to see handsome men and beautiful women.
Due to the strong winds and rain over the previous two days, many ginkgo leaves had fallen, so we didn't see Sanlitun Ginkgo Avenue at its best.
Ginkgo trees outside the embassy wall.
Ditan Park Ginkgo Avenue is located on Andingmenwai Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is said that some ginkgo trees were planted when Ditan Park was built, making it the "oldest" ginkgo avenue. The golden leaves and red walls of Ginkgo Avenue in Ditan Park are particularly artistic.
The golden leaves and red walls of Ginkgo Avenue in Ditan Park are particularly artistic.
As Beijing's famous Ginkgo Avenue, Ditan Park has always been a charming scenery that cannot be missed in the capital in autumn.
Although Ginkgo Avenue in Ditan Park is located in the city center, it enjoys a unique quiet space amid the hustle and bustle. Entering from the north gate of Ditan Park, you can see two rows of tall ginkgo trees.
It is said that the park's Ginkgo Avenue is the oldest Ginkgo Avenue in Beijing and is very historical.
The more than 200 ginkgo trees in the garden were planted in the late 1950s. In late autumn, the ground beneath the trees is covered with golden color.
Longhegong Lama Temple Ginkgo Avenue is located at the entrance of the Lama Temple. The ancient architecture of the Lama Temple blends with the ginkgo leaves, making it the most "tranquil" ginkgo avenue.
The Ginkgo Avenue in Ditan Park and the Ginkgo Avenue in Lama Temple are very close and can be viewed together. The ginkgo trees along Lama Temple's Ginkgo Avenue are in their prime, with each tree over 30 years old, resulting in a tall and dense appearance.
The Lama Temple's Ginkgo Avenue is blanketed in golden fans, creating a breathtaking scene. It's known as the "most tranquil Ginkgo Avenue."
The golden autumn colors of the Lama Temple's Ginkgo Avenue are breathtaking. The golden light and shadow of the ginkgo trees and the ancient buildings are intertwined, creating a particularly artistic conception.
The golden light and shadow of the ginkgo trees and the ancient buildings are intertwined, creating a particularly artistic conception.
Red walls and yellow leaves. The grey walls hidden among the ginkgo trees further highlight the tranquility and antiquity of this place.
The grey walls hidden among the ginkgo trees further highlight the tranquility and antiquity of this place.
Another Ginkgo Avenue in the park.
The lush ginkgo trees create a romantic and tranquil scenery.
The blue sky and yellow leaves spread all the way through the ancient altar and temple, as if the road was paved with gold.
The pavilion in the park is decorated with ginkgo trees.
Yuetan Park may not be large in area, but in recent years the ginkgo trees in Ditan Park have become a popular check-in spot.
In the park, ginkgo leaves rustle down, covering the entire ground. The park is filled with ginkgo trees, making it worthy of being called the "most beautiful ginkgo park."
The park is filled with ginkgo trees, making it worthy of being called the "most beautiful ginkgo park."
Chasing the ginkgo trees in Beijing also depends on the weather. Just five days later, on the 19th, we returned to Yuetan Park, and Ginkgo Avenue had taken on a completely different look, a fork of light.
Due to the strong winds and rain over the previous two days, the park, once ablaze with golden yellow, was now covered in ginkgo leaves, falling like rain, leaving a blanket of yellow leaves.
Autumn in Beijing comes and goes quickly. A strong wind and heavy rain on November 15th, followed by the first snow in Beijing on November 21st, instantly wiped out most of the ginkgo trees in the city, leaving only dead branches. Thus, our ginkgo viewing activities in 2020 have come to an end.
In the autumn of 2020, although we managed to see some of Beijing's most famous ginkgo avenues, the strong winds and snow meant that the city's ginkgo viewing time was less than 20 days.
Although I didn't have enough time to enjoy the ginkgo trees in autumn 2020, I still managed to visit several of the capital's most famous ginkgo avenues, including Tianyuan Park, Taoranting Park, the Old Summer Palace, Diaoyutai State Park, Sanlitun East Fifth Street, Ditan Park, Lama Temple, and the Moon Altar. It was a pretty satisfying trip.
In autumn, ginkgo trees are everywhere in Beijing. There's even a ginkgo avenue outside our residential complex.
This ginkgo avenue is not very old, but it will become a charming ginkgo tourist avenue in the future.
There is also a small ginkgo trail in our community.
Every day, walking along the ginkgo path, I feel good.
We use it as a "World Flower Garden" in our back garden, and there are also scattered ginkgo trees.
When you have free time, it's nice to go for a walk in the park and check in on the ginkgo trees.
Beijing also has large ginkgo forests in Zhanggezhuang (Beijing's largest ginkgo forest), Changying Park, Olympic Forest Park, the Guo Moruo Memorial Hall, Peking University and Tsinghua University, Beijing Forestry University, Zhongshan Park, Badachu Park, Hongluo Temple, Tanzhe Temple (with the Emperor's Tree), Xifeng Temple, Wuta Temple, Beijing Botanical Garden, Dajue Temple, the Summer Palace, Gaolizhang Village, Imperial City Ruins Park, Jiangfu Park, the National Library, and other places. I didn't get to see them, so I'll have to wait until next year to see them.
Visiting the ginkgo trees in 2020 is no regret! Thanks for reading!
Note: Odaki has published more than 80 travel notes, including: the ten Balkan countries in Europe, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Morocco, Tunisia, Russia, Thailand, Laos, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali, and Beijing, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Shandong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Anhui, Gansu, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Xiamen, Ejina Banner and other places. Please click on the blue "Odaki" at the top or search "Odaki's works" on the Internet. Thank you.
Odaki's travel notes, No. 01, 2020, No. 086 in total
November 28, 2020
Number of days：4 days, Average cost: 1500 yuan,
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Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 100 yuan,
, Average cost: 20 yuan, Updated: 2021.04.02
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