Beijing Xishan National Forest Park: The Ultimate Flower Appreciation Guide

Embrace nature without leaving the city! Photography and hiking, all in one place!🌿 📌 Basic Information ⏰Time: 7am–6pm (7pm during peak season) 💰Tickets: CNY 10 (half price for students, free for children under 1.2m) 📍Location: Intersection of Minzhuang Road and Xiangshan South Road, Haidian District 🚗 Transportation 🚇Subway: Take Line S1 to Xiangshan Station, then a 10-min taxi ride. 🚌Bus: Take Bus 505/698 to Nanhetan Station and walk 800m. 🚙Car: Navigate to the east gate parking lot (arrive before 9am on weekends; parking is limited). 📸 Must-See Attractions 1️⃣ Guixiao Stone Viewing Platform ✨The best night view in the capital! We recommend starting your hike at 5pm to catch both the sunset and the night view. Wear white clothing for better photos! Remember to bring a fill light. 👉Route: East Gate > Huaxi > Forest Trail > Hongye Ridge > Kuaile Forest (approx. 1.5 hrs total) 2️⃣ Peony Garden Secret Realm 💐Limited-time flower sea in April–May! Perfect for Hanfu or French dresses. Best to shoot in the early morning or evening. Bring your own oil-paper umbrella or straw bag for a more dynamic look. 3️⃣ Forest Boardwalk 🌲A paradise for nature photography! Tips: • Shoot upwards at the tree canopy and blue sky (wide-angle lens) • Use a low angle to capture the extending boardwalk • The sunlight filtering through the leaves around 3pm is magical. 👣 Recommended Routes ✅Family Fun (2 hrs) East Gate > Waterfall > Children's Play Area > Forest Stage > Nature Trail (bring a bug net and observation box for kids) ✅Intense Hike (4 hrs) Tea Shed Ruins > Hongye Grand Canyon > Guixiao Stone > Banshan Pavilion > Lookout Tower (bring hiking poles! Multiple supply points along the way) ✅Instagrammable Spots (3 hrs) Huaxi Waterfall > Peony Garden > Magnolia Garden > Kuaile Forest > Guixiao Stone (allow 30 mins for photos at each spot) ⚠️ Important Notes • Wear non-slip shoes! Some stone steps are slippery with moss. • Essential items: mosquito repellent, sun hat • Drones are prohibited. 🍱 Picnic Guide Recommended locations: Forest Lawn/Magnolia Garden Bring garbage bags! Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility. 📅 Seasonal Highlights 🌸Spring: Peach blossoms in March/Peonies in April/Lilacs in May 🍃Summer: A cool escape (5°C cooler than the city!) 🍁Autumn: Red leaves in late October ❄️Winter: Rime scenery (recommended early morning after snowfall) Beijing Xishan National Forest Park