[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Qiongdao Chunyin (Updated Apr)

Enter Beihai Park on a spring morning, ascend Qiong Island, and look up at the White Pagoda. The azure sky and sunlight illuminate the majestic White Pagoda. Surrounding it are a profusion of blossoms: pure white, delicate pink mountain peach blossoms and plum blossoms accompany the White Pagoda. Birds fly past the White Pagoda, their calls clear and melodious. In the gentle breeze, petals fall like snow, scattering at the foot of the Pagoda. The spring scenery of the White Pagoda is truly captivating. Standing on Qiong Island, looking beyond the flowers, the lake surface resembles a giant emerald, sparkling and shimmering. Willow trees line the lake shore, their slender branches dotted with tender green leaves. Enter Beihai Park through the South Gate. There are several paths to climb the White Pagoda, and the ascent is not difficult for someone of average fitness. The photos in this article (except for the last one) were taken outside the White Pagoda ticket checkpoint. The ticket office opens at 8am. Once inside, you can climb a few more steps to get closer to the White Pagoda. The entrance fee for the White Pagoda is 10 yuan.

#chinatransit Transit travels represent a new trend in the travel industry and offers immense opportunities for tourists and bring unforgettable memories after journey. One of the most remarkable transit travels is one from Beijing to Ulanbaatar by train. The main trains from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar are K23 trains and K3 trains. They are all international intermodal trains that travel through China, Mongolia and Russia to provide cross-border travel services. K23 train The K23 train departs from Beijing, passes through the Erlianhot border, enters Mongolia, and finally arrives in Ulaanbaatar.The train will be replaced with a wide track in Erlianhot during operation to ensure that the train can adapt to Mongolia's railway standards.Passengers can choose to stay in the car to observe the wheel change process, or get off the bus and go shopping at the duty-free shop at Erlian Station. K3 train The K3 train departs from Beijing, passes through Ulaanbaatar, and finally arrives in Moscow.The train crosses the Funchal Railway, the Beijing-Bao Railway, the Ji'er Railway, the Mongolian Trans-Siberian Railway and the Trans-Siberian Railway, passing through China, Mongolia and Russia.The running time of the K3 train is every Wednesday. It departs from Beijing, passes through Ulaanbaatar, and arrives in Moscow on Monday. The journey takes about 131 hours and 31 minutes. Fare and ticket purchase method The fare for the K23 and K3 trains starts at about 3,500 yuan. When purchasing tickets, it should be noted that tickets cannot be purchased at 12306 or the ticket hall of the railway station. The only way to purchase tickets is to go to the China National Tourism Administration on the first floor of the Beijing International Hotel to make a reservation. Individual tickets need to be purchased 7 days before departure, and group tickets need to be purchased 14 days before departure. The reservation fee is 100 yuan/person.

The 'Spring Shade on Jade Islet Stele' is located on the northeast side of Qionghua Island in Beihai Park, erected in the sixteenth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1751). The stele is 4.1 meters high, facing east, with a dragon carved on each of the four ridges on the top, and dragon patterns in relief on the tablet's head, with the words 'Imperial Creation' in seal script on the front and back. Under the Sumeru pedestal, it is supported by a square stone platform. The east-facing side of the stele is inlaid with the calligraphy of Emperor Qianlong's 'Spring Shade on Jade Islet' in regular script, while the west side (the back) and the north and south sides each bear an imperial poem by Qianlong. The base of the Sumeru pedestal is carved with seated Buddhas, strongmen, and entwined flowers, and there are two round stone carvings of chi dragons in front of the stele. This stele was originally erected in front of the Joyful Heart Hall and was moved here in the fifty-first year of Qianlong (1786).

Tips: Several characteristics define the well-known parks in Beijing. First, parking is difficult, and second, the parks are often crowded, making it a challenge to ensure you've visited all the important sights. Therefore, here comes the guide for parking + boating + island visiting in Beihai Park! This is the itinerary I followed last week, and it's family-friendly, so you won't take any unnecessary detours! 🚏Parking: Search for 'Xibanqiao (Bus Station)' for a parking lot where you can still park even if it's full by leaving your keys with the staff. If you're worried, you can ask for their phone number. I found this tip in a guidebook, and when I returned from my visit, they had already moved my car to a regular parking spot. The parking fee is 8 yuan per hour, which is quite reasonable in the expensive Xicheng District. ☀Tour Route: After leaving the parking lot, cross the street and turn left to reach the East Gate, with the route map attached below. Route 1: After entering, you can go straight to the island. Heading north, you can visit well-known spots on the island: Qiongdao Chunyin, Yilan Hall, and Yuegu Lou, all of which are well worth a visit. Emperor Qianlong's aesthetic taste and interest in calligraphy and painting are evident. Route 2: Walk to the South Gate (a five-minute walk), enter the White Pagoda area from Yong'an Temple (buy a combined entrance ticket or a single ticket for 10 yuan). Yong'an Temple closes at 5:30 pm, so go early! (If it's closed, you can still get close to the White Pagoda by taking the small path next to it, but you'll miss Yong'an Temple, Falun Hall, Puan Hall, and other sights) 🚢Boating: Boats can be rented directly from the South Gate and Lingguang Hall pier, but there are no large cruise ships (those that you don't have to row yourself). For the large cruise ships, you have to leave the island and take them from the outer circle of Beihai Park. In conclusion, you can visit Qiong Island in an afternoon, but if you want to deeply explore the outer circle of Beihai Park and take photos, it will take a whole day!