Yuanmingyuan Park - The Garden of Gardens

Address: No. 28, Qinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing. Located next to the Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan Park is made up of three gardens: Yuanming, Changchun, and Qichun. It was built and maintained by the Qing emperors for over 150 years. In spring, the apricot blossoms bloom, just as described in the imperial poem: "In the deep spring, the flowers bloom, as bright as the clouds." The flowers bloom from March to April and can be found throughout the park, with the main viewing areas being Huashen Temple, Mingchun Gate, and Xinghuachun Pavilion. The park is very large and takes a long time to visit, so it takes half a day to walk through it all. Maps of the park are available, and it is recommended to take one, as it is easy to get lost. The most worthwhile attractions to see are the 12 zodiac animals, Dashuifa, and Huanghua Maze. In summer, you can also enjoy the lotus flowers in the lotus pond.