Jingshan Park

景山公园

A man-made hill just north of the Forbidden City. The Wanchun Pavilion offers the best view of the palace's golden rooftops and marks the highest point on Beijing's Central Axis.

Jingshan was once the rear garden of the imperial palace during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Built from the soil dug out for the moat, it stands about 43 meters high, the highest point in the old city. In 2024, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of Beijing's Central Axis. At the summit, the Wanchun Pavilion faces the Gate of Divine Might of the Forbidden City directly. To the south, you can take in the golden sea of more than 9,000 rooms' worth of rooftops, and on clear days you can see as far as Tiananmen and Qianmen. To the north are the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, and to the west, the White Dagoba of Beihai Park. On the east slope is the 'crooked locust tree' where the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself, which was replanted later. At the foot of the hill, the Shouhuang Hall complex is built to the standard of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and hosts exhibitions on the Central Axis. Admission is only RMB 2, paid on site by scanning a QR code, and no reservation is needed. The best plan is to tour the Forbidden City, exit through the Gate of Divine Might, cross the road to Jingshan's east or south gate, and climb to the top in about 15 minutes. Around sunset (about 16:30 in winter, 19:00 in summer), the light is softest, and photographers arrive early to claim their spots. Early in the morning, many locals sing in groups and play jianzi (shuttlecock). From April to May each year, the Peony Culture Festival features over 200 varieties in the peony garden at the foot of the hill. Getting there: it's a 15-minute walk from Shichahai station on Metro Line 8 or Nanluoguxiang station on Line 6, or take a bus to Jingshan East Gate. Bring a wide-angle lens, or use your phone's panorama mode to capture the whole Forbidden City.

Jingshan Park

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