Is there any better time for a spring outing in Beijing than May? The sky is blue, the parks are in full bloom, their grass lush and soft… and after such a long, bleak winter, we’re all in need of a little Vitamin D! What’s more, we get the luxury of this fabulous, long May Day holiday to fit in as much as possible! So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of Beijing’s best spots for family outings and picnics.

Chaoyang Park

The largest urban park inside Beijing’s fourth ring road. Within a minute or two of entering the park, you’re already poised to relax lakeside, with plenty of surrounding woods and grass to explore before plopping yourself down for a leisurely picnic. While there’s plenty of areas to set up, folks seem particularly fond of the sloping lawn by the lake.

Name: Chaoyang Park 朝阳公园
Address: No. 1, South Chaoyang Park Road 朝阳公园南路一号
Opening hours: 6am-10pm
Price: RMB 5

Beijing Botanical Garden

Located at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain in the west of Beijing, and one of the best places to find all of the flora that the capital has to offer. One standout flower currently in bloom is the peony, so why not take a picnic mat on a sunny day and enjoy your own private secret garden. Pro tip: The deeper you go, the fewer people there are, and the better your picnics will be.

Name: Beijing Botanical Garden 北京植物园
Address: Xiangshan Wofosi Road, Haidian District, Beijing 北京海淀区香山卧佛寺路
Opening hours: 6am-9pm
Price: RMB 5, book from Changyougongyuan(畅游公园) WeChat official account

Dong Xiao Kou Forest Park

A perfect picnic park for family trips, the flat lawn is ideal for pitching a tent and really immersing yourself in those sweet, sweet wilderness vibes. What’s more, there are two artificial lakes and two big beaches where families can while away some pretty wonderful weekends.

Name: Dong Xiao Kou Forest Park 东小口森林公园
Address: Changping District Heiquan Road and Xixiaokou Road intersection southeast side 昌平区黑泉路与西小口路交叉口东南侧
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Dong Xiao Kou Urban Sports Park

If you’re looking for something a bit more secluded and off the beaten path, this is the park for you! It’s located near the beautiful Dong Xiao Kou Forest Park, meaning you can get a little lost in the woods (sometimes, that’s a good thing!) and then retire to the park for lunch and some R&R.

Name: Dong Xiao Kou Urban Sports Park 东小口城市休闲公园
Address: Changping District Middle East Road and the intersection of Heiquan Road southeast 昌平区中东路与黑泉路交汇处东南侧
Opening hours: 5am-10pm
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park

What makes this park so unique is that it runs parallel to a lovely little river, which is perfect for bike rides, or even renting a small boat and going for a cruise. There are also special camping areas throughout, so get your tent, folding chairs, and umbrellas ready!

Name: Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park 通州大运河森林公园
Address: South Songliang Road, Tongzhou District 通州区宋梁路南段
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free

Shunyi Xi Hu Yuan Park

Do you have a little one who loves airplanes? Well, this is the only park in Beijing where planes can be seen taking off and landing, as it was designed around Beijing Capital Airport. The 450-acre lawn is ideal for picnics, surrounded by trees, and has an artificial lake, plus an observation deck, making it a perfect place to watch airplanes up close.

Name: Shunyi Xi Hu Yuan Park 顺义西湖园公园
Address: SW corner of Terminal 3, Capital Airport 首都机场3号航站楼西南角
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: No camping or tents allowed on the grass

Jing Cheng Huai Yuan

Although it’s located in close proximity to some of Beijing’s more popular parks, this is an idyllic oasis away from the crowds. It’s got palatial lawns with various trees and flowers; however, the name of the park comes from the locust tree!

Name: Jing Cheng Huai Yuan 京城槐园
Address: Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (about 100 meters south of Dongba Country Park) 北京市朝阳区姚家园路(东坝郊野公园南侧约100米)
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Ma Jia Wan Wetland Park

This park is populated by a bunch of mini-islands that are separated by lakes and connected by bridges, meaning you can literally hang out on your own private island. Find a pitch of grass by the lake, munch on a delicious picnic, enjoy a bit of fishing, and let the kids splash around in the water.

Name: Ma Jia Wan Wetland Park 马家湾湿地公园
Address: The northeast corner of the intersection of Beijing’s East Fifth Ring Road and Beijing-Tianjin Expressway 北京东五环与京津高速交汇处的东北角
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Beijing Chaolai Forest Park

Another park that’s a bit lesser-known, it boasts large areas of forest and grassland, not to mention plenty of super-convenient parking places, which is great for those with younger children.

Name: Beijing Chaolai Forest Park 北京朝来森林公园
Address: Xinbei Road, Laiguangying Township, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京朝阳区来广营乡新北路
Opening hours: 6am-9pm
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Dongba Country Park

A pristine country park with woods for camping and dog walking. They don’t call it a “country park” for nothing!

Name: Dongba Country Park 东坝郊野公园
Address: East 5th Ring Road, Dongba Township, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京朝阳区东坝乡东五环外
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Shiji Forest Park

This semi-wetland park on the banks of the Yongding River was once an abandoned golf course but has since been transformed into an impressive public space. Here you can walk your dog, ride a bike, fish, have a picnic, and take beautiful photos.

Name: Shiji Forest Park 世纪森林公园
Address: Nongchang Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 北京市丰台区农场路
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Green Dyke Park

Located just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Shiji Forest Park, visiting the two in one day makes for a day of outdoor exploration unlike any other. There are lots of reeds and lotuses, as well as wetlands and walkways. To be honest, this feels more like a park you’d find in areas of southern China.

Name: Green Dyke Park 绿堤公园
Address: South of Lugou New Bridge, Fengtai District, Beijing 北京市丰台区卢沟新桥南侧
Opening hours: All-day
Price: Free
Note: Dog-friendly

Jingkids Summer Fling

Update May 19: Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing Jingkids Summer Fling from Sat, May 22 to Sat, May 29 (Rain date Sun, May 30). All bought and won tickets will be automatically transferred to this date. Full announcement, including how to request a refund, can be found here.

And don’t forget if you want to feast with friends while planning the kids’ summer activities, join Jingkids on May 29 for our inaugural Summer Fling! You get a picnic blanket when you purchase tickets in advance, plus specialty food vendors, adventure camps, and more!

When: Saturday, May 29 from 11am to 4:30pm (Rain date: Sunday, May 30, 11am to 4:30pm)
Where: Dongfeng International Sports Park (Just east of Chaoyang Park)
Tickets: RMB 100 for a family of 3 (+RMB 50 for each additional person).
Note: Small tents and picnic blankets welcome! Open flame cooking is not permitted.

KEEP READING: Where To Play if You Stay In Beijing This May Day

Images: Baidu Image, WeChat Official Accounts

Too often we categorize the family-friendliness of a park by its playground. But we should give our kids a little more credit for creativity and self-directed play. Beijing Botanical Garden is a short drive away and the endless paths and gardens offer children plenty of opportunities to explore and get back to nature. Scan the QR code to watch our video.

Photos: Julie Wolf