Yuyuantan Park 玉渊潭公园

About Yuyuantan Park

The water is its organizing feature, with paths and planted banks allowing broad views toward the Central Radio and TV Tower. Cherry trees give the park a well-known spring identity, but their flowering is seasonal rather than a permanent display. Outside that period, the lake circuit and the contrast between greenery and the surrounding city remain the main experience. Plan a shore-based walk and choose the gate that best fits your onward route instead of crossing the whole park unnecessarily.

In 1773, during the Qing dynasty, springs from the Fragrant Hills were diverted into low ground and impounded to create the lake. The Qianlong Emperor built a palace beside it for short stays. In the later Qing period, the palace was gradually abandoned and the lake nearly dried up.

In 1960, the Beijing government channelled water from the Yongding River (永定河) into the lake, and Yuyuantan became an urban park. The remaining parts of the park were developed in the 1990s, when cherry trees were widely planted. A new lake dug south of the original one for the river-diversion project was named Bayi Lake (八一湖) in recognition of the contribution of army units stationed in Beijing.

The park covers about 137 hectares, of which 61 hectares are water. It lies between the western Third Ring Road and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse (钓鱼台), and is designated a national AAAA-level scenic area (国家AAAA级景区). The lake water is supplied from the Summer Palace (颐和园), in northwestern Beijing.

What to look for

• Lakeside views: compare the open water and the city skyline, including the Central Radio and TV Tower.
• Cherry-tree planting: notice the grove layout year-round, with blossom viewing dependent on the actual flowering season.

Location & getting there

Getting to Yuyuantan Park

Yuyuantan Park East Gate station serves the eastern approach. The park lies inside the western Third Ring Road, with the China Millennium Monument to its south.

• Use the named gate in your arrival plan: the park’s broad water area makes opposite sides different destinations.