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The park was built in the Jin Dynasty (1186). The park is open all year around but the best time to visit it is in autumn, when all the leaves turn red/orange colour and it will just leave you mesmerized. Běijīng Zhíwùyuán (Beijing Botanical Gardens), are located next to the foot of Xiāngshān. It's a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and would be ideal for anyone who wants to while away their time in beautiful surroundings, including the greenhouse and a special rose garden that contains at least five types of rose flower. Quite romantic too!

After spending the day at Xiāngshān and Běijīng Zhíwùyuán, it would provide a nice ending to the day if you visited the town of Wu Dao Kou - an area near the Tsinghua and Beijing Universities, popular with tourists, foreign students and expats alike. There are a myriad of restaurants of all different types of cuisines (including Indian, Italian and Mexican). There are also some nice Japanese and Korean restaurants where you can drink authentic Japanese or Korean beer over a nice meal.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19445 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17511
ChangPu River Park was originally a support centre for the Imperial City with areas for growing flowers, raising doves and providing other necessities used in the everyday life of the Emperors.

In the 1960s, the 'Outer Golden River' which ran through the plot was filled in and warehouses were constructed to store decorations and adornments for regular Tian'anmen Square totalitarian propaganda pageants and military parades. Fortunately, the ancient trees were spared and remain carefully tended to this day.

In 2001, with the awarding of the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing and an increasing concern for the preservation of Beijings environment and important historical features, the Municipal Government's decision to bring the area dramatically back to life resulted in the creation of the current parkland (only 510m in length) which opened in 2003.

Surrounded by high red walls with traditional pavilions, bridges, court architecture and plenty of quiet places to relax and admire the clean water, rock pools, goldfish, sculptures and immaculate garden design, this is the perfect sanctuary from the noise and commercialism of life outside.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17511 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17403 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17403 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2107
If your feet can bear one more climb after a day in the forbidden city, make it up to the "Pavillion of Everlasting Spring" which overlooks the entire city. Try to get there for sunset for incredible views of the hundreds of shimmering golden rooftops of the forbidden city and the expanse of Tian An Men square.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2107 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/90 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/90 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/80 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/80 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/69 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/69 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/67 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/67