Parks as an integral part of urban life provide people with an opportunity to experience a true sense of the lifestyle and cultural heritage of a city. The fiery red leaves in Fragrant Hills Park, the breath-taking cherry blossoms in Yuyuantan Park, the spectacular bird's eye view of the entire Forbidden City from Jingshan Park…These are but some of the joyous moments offered by parks in Beijing. Foreigners and visitors alike in Beijing can also take a tour around the local parks to get a feel of the authentic folk culture. Here's a guide on how to efficiently make a reservation to visit these cultural treasures.
Take the Summer Palace as an example.
In WeChat, search for the official account of the Summer Palace (颐和园 or Yiheyuan) and click "个人购票 (Ticket for Individuals)"
→ Purchase tickets after reading Admission Instructions
→ Select your preference of "Admission Ticket", "Through Ticket", "Discounted Admission Ticket" or "Discounted Through Ticket"
→ Read the "购买须知 (Purchase Instructions)" carefully
→ Select the date and duration of your visit, the number of visitors, contact person info, telephone number and visitor information
→ Complete online payment
→ Present the QR code and ID card used to purchase the ticket and enter the Summer Palace on the date and time specified on your reservation
In addition to the Summer Palace, parks such as the Temple of Heaven Park, Fragrant Hills Park and Beijing Zoo also offer online reservation services for foreigners. Please refer to the official WeChat account of each park for further information.
Notes:
1. Tickets can be reserved up to 7 days in advance. Some scenic spots in the parks do not accept same-day reservation while time slot reservation with real names shall be made at least 1 day in advance.
2. Some scenic spots are closed on Mondays (excluding national holidays), so please arrange your tour accordingly.
3. Unused tickets may be refunded within 7 days from the date of the tour. However, visitors must initiate an application for a refund themselves. No service fee will be charged. Expired tickets cannot be refunded.
Take Beihai Park as an example.
In WeChat, search for the official WeChat account "畅游公园(Beijing Park Online)" and click to follow the account
→ Select "北海公园 (Beihai Park)"
→ Read the "温馨提示 (Friendly Reminders)" and confirm the telephone number used for reservations
→ Call +86-010-64037972 or +86-010-64002378 to make a reservation (Chinese language required)
→ Go to the service window of Beihai Park on the date of the reservation, present the ID card used in making the reservation and purchase a ticket to enter the park.
In addition to Beihai Park, parks such as Jingshan Park, Zhongshan Park, Beijing Botanical Garden, Yuyuantan Park and Taoranting Park also offer telephone reservation services for foreigners. Please refer to the official WeChat account "畅游公园(Beijing Park Online)" for specific reservation instructions.
Notes:
In addition to the notes mentioned in Option 1, the two following points must also be noted.
1. Telephone reservation for tickets must be made at least 1 day in advance. Telephone service hours are from 9:00 to 16:00 daily. When making a reservation, your name, nationality, ID number, and other information must be provided.
2. Walk-in visitors without reservations will not be allowed to purchase tickets on site.
For further information on park tours, visit the official WeChat account "畅游公园(Beijing Park Online)" and the "Travelling in Beijing" section of this website: http://english.beijing.gov.cn/travellinginbeijing/index.html.
QR Code for "畅游公园(Beijing Park Online)"
