The Forbidden City is one of the most phenomenal historical sites to see. There is an unwritten law that says that one cannot come to Beijing without seeing the Forbidden City. My grandparents visited us for my tenth birthday recently, but unfortunately, we could not go because of the military parade. But we had a backup plan.
The unwritten law says you’ve got to see the Forbidden City, so instead of actually visiting the palace, we would still be able to see the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park, 景山公园.
Jingshan Park is located north of the Forbidden City, and on a clear day, one can climb to the top of a hill situated inside the park and be rewarded with a stunning view of the grand Forbidden City. On the other side, one can view the famous Confucius Temple, Beihai Park and even the National Theater. I have been inside the Palace Museum, but I never knew exactly how vast it is.
On top of that hill, we could finally see the true size of the Forbidden City. Interestingly, this hill happens to be a tall mound of dirt. Have you ever dug a hole? What did you do with the soil from this hole? In fact, the hill of Jingshan Park is the mound of dirt dug from the moat of the Forbidden City. The park was the royal garden of the imperial family. Visit Coal Hill to learn about the tragic final days of the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty.
The park was lovely and peaceful. Visit in the autumn to see the glorious changes of foliage along the golden roof tiles. Come in the spring to see the blossoms and peonies take over the park. The park is just perfect in size for a nice little stroll. If you want to see the Forbidden City but are allergic to crowds, Jingshan Park is a perfect alternative.
Find it:
Jingshan Park
44 Jingshan Xijie, Jingshan, Xicheng District
西城区景山景山西街44号
Entrance Fee: RMB 2 for adults, RMB 1 for kids
If you are hungry for more Beijing experiences but craving Southeast Asian flavors like my grandparents, Susu, a Vietnamese restaurant, is a good compromise.
I recommend visiting Susu in one of the alleyways of the hutongs! My grandparents are visiting from Vietnam; they had recently been eating a lot of Chinese cuisine, so it would be kind to treat them with familiar flavors. The outside of Susu looked quite shabby and unimpressive. However, my grandparents were surprised that the restaurant interior was very modern and the courtyard very quaint and peaceful.
We really enjoyed eating the shaken beef with the salt and pepper dipping; the meat was so tender, and it melted! The papaya salad was tart and refreshing. My grandma ordered a stir-fried tofu, and she was very happy with this choice. For myself, I ordered bun bo, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup.
The food was very tasty, and the ambience of the courtyard was better. Eating in the courtyard was very peaceful, and it was a perfect place to take photos. It is very surprising how a restaurant can be so scenic.
And if you think your adventure is incomplete, the Llama Temple is just a ten-minute walk away from Susu.
Find it:
Susu·苏苏(四合院创始店)
10 Qianliang Hutong Xixiang, Dongcheng District (north side of Longfu Hospital, near 56 Qianliang Hutong)
东城区钱粮胡同西巷10号(隆福医院北侧,靠近钱粮胡同56号)
So, there’s another way to spend your weekend from Clark Yap! Have fun exploring!!! Stay tuned. And stay reading!
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Images: Clark Yap
