# Jingshan Park, Beijing

> Jingshan Park is the man-made hill directly behind the Forbidden City's north gate. From Wanchun Pavilion on top you get Beijing's classic view over the palace roofs and the city's central axis. Entry is ¥2, no booking needed. It's open daily: 6:30–20:00 from November to March, 6:00–21:00 April–October. Allow 45 minutes.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park

- City: [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing), China
- YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 45 min
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: ¥2, concession ¥1
- During exhibitions: ¥10, concession ¥5 — usually in spring, in peony season
- Children and seniors: Under 1.2 m and over 60 free, according to unofficial guides
- Booking: Not required: tickets at the South, West and East gates; online in the 畅游公园 WeChat account 1–7 days ahead
- Paying at the gate: Cash, WeChat Pay, Alipay or a foreign bank card
- Hours: Nov–Mar 6:30–20:00, last entry 19:30; Apr–Oct 6:00–21:00, last entry 20:30
- Shouhuang Hall: Daytime only, shorter than the park; closed Mondays, according to unofficial sources
- Gates: South Gate faces the Forbidden City's north exit; West and East gates too; North Gate closed
- Metro: Line 8 to Shichahai or Lines 6/8 to Nanluoguxiang, then about 15 minutes on foot
- Address: 44 Jingshan West Street, Xicheng District (景山西街44号)
- Coordinates: 39.92361, 116.39056
- Facts checked: 04.11.2026

## Key facts

- **45.7 m** — height of the hill — the highest point in old central Beijing (source: English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **1928** — the former imperial garden opened to the public as a park (source: Beijing Municipal Government; English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **5 pavilions** — one on each of the hill's five peaks, with Wanchun in the middle (source: English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **23 ha** — area of the park (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia; Wikidata)
- **15th century** — the hill was piled up under the Yongle Emperor from earth dug out for the palace moat (source: English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **1750** — the Qianlong Emperor built the five pavilions you see today (source: Chinese Wikipedia; Visit Beijing)
- **1749** — Shouhuang Hall, the imperial ancestral temple, rose on the north side of the hill (source: Chinese Wikipedia; Visit Beijing)
- **2024** — Jingshan was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the Beijing Central Axis (source: Chinese Wikipedia; English Wikipedia, Beijing Central Axis)
- **7.8 km** — length of the Central Axis, from the Drum and Bell Towers south; Wanchun Pavilion is its high point (source: English Wikipedia; Visit Beijing)
- **3 of 4** — gates are open to visitors: South, West and East (source: English Wikipedia; Beijing 12345 hotline)

## Jingshan Park tickets: price and do you need to book?

Entry is **¥2**, or ¥1 for concessions — about the cheapest ticket in central Beijing. During exhibitions, usually in spring when the peonies bloom, it rises to ¥10 and ¥5. Those are the Beijing government's prices. Unofficial guides add that children under 1.2 m and visitors over 60 go in free.

You **don't need to book**. The Beijing government's 12345 hotline says tickets are sold at the South, West and East gates, and that you can also buy 1–7 days ahead in the **畅游公园** (Visiting Beijing Parks) WeChat account or mini-program, with English available, using your passport. If you buy online, show the QR code and the same passport at the gate.

The gates take cash, WeChat Pay, Alipay and foreign bank cards. For a ¥2 ticket, a few yuan in cash is the quickest option of all. This is one of the few Beijing sights where you can simply turn up — handy after the [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city), which sells nothing on the day.

## Jingshan Park opening hours and the best time to go

The park is open **every day**. From 1 November to 31 March it runs 6:30–20:00, last entry 19:30; from 1 April to 31 October 6:00–21:00, last entry 20:30, according to the Beijing government. Shouhuang Hall on the north side keeps shorter daytime hours and, according to unofficial sources, closes on Mondays.

Come **an hour before sunset**. The sun drops behind Beihai to the west, the palace roofs turn gold and the White Dagoba goes dark against the sky. Sunset is around 5pm in winter and closer to 8pm in midsummer. Midday is the worst time for photos: the sun sits over the palace and you're shooting into the light.

Opening time is the quiet alternative: locals do their exercises and sing on the slopes, and there are few tour groups. On weekend and holiday evenings the summit terraces fill up — arrive early and claim a spot at the south rail.

> **Leaving the Forbidden City? Go straight up** Most visitors leave the Forbidden City by its north gate, the Gate of Divine Might (Shenwumen), and Jingshan's South Gate is directly opposite, across a single road. Don't head for the metro yet: pay ¥2 at the gate and climb. Ten minutes later you're looking down on the whole palace you just walked through.

## How to get to Jingshan Park

1. From the Forbidden City: leave by the north gate, **Shenwumen**, and cross the road to the park's South Gate — 2–3 minutes.
2. From Tiananmen Square by metro: **Line 1** from Tiananmen East one stop to **Wangfujing**, then change to **Line 8** northbound.
3. Ride Line 8 to **Shichahai**. From Exit A2 walk south for about 15 minutes to the West Gate. About 35 minutes door to door.
4. Or get off Line 8 at **Nanluoguxiang** (also on Line 6) and walk about 15 minutes south-west to the East Gate, through the hutong lanes.
5. On foot from the square it's about 40 minutes along the east wall and moat of the Forbidden City to the South Gate — flat and scenic.
6. By taxi or DiDi, show the driver 景山公园西门 (West Gate) or 景山公园东门 (East Gate); cars struggle to stop at the South Gate.
7. From Beihai Park: its East Gate is across the road from Jingshan's West Gate, 5–10 minutes on foot.

## Is Jingshan Park worth it, and how long do you need?

Yes — it's the single best view in central Beijing, it costs ¥2 and it's right where you'll be anyway. After three hours inside the Forbidden City, the hill shows you how it all fits together: hall after hall lined up on the axis, the corner towers, the moat and the golden roofs running south towards Tiananmen.

Forty-five minutes is enough to climb to Wanchun Pavilion, take in the view and come down another way. Give it an hour and a half if you want Shouhuang Hall and the peony garden too. It's not worth a special trip across the city on a hazy day, when the palace roofs fade into grey — check the sky first.

The climb is short but steep, on stone steps with no lift. The West Gate path is the quickest and steepest; the East Gate route is longer and gentler, according to unofficial guides.

## What to see in Jingshan Park

- **Wanchun Pavilion** (万春亭) — the central and highest pavilion. The classic panorama of the Forbidden City, plus the view north along the axis to the Drum Tower. Inside sits a statue of the Vairocana Buddha.
- **The other four pavilions** — Zhoushang and Guanmiao to the east, Jifang and Fulan to the west, all built in 1750. The western ones look over [Beihai](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beihai-park) and its White Dagoba; the eastern ones over the old courtyard rooftops.
- **Shouhuang Hall** (寿皇殿) — a large temple complex on the north side where the Qing court honoured portraits of its ancestors. For decades it housed the Beijing Children's Palace; after restoration it is open to visitors again.
- **The Chongzhen Emperor's tree** on the east slope: the last Ming emperor took his own life here in 1644, as rebels under Li Zicheng took Beijing; today's tree replaces the lost original.
- **The peony garden** — peonies of many varieties bloom in late April and early May, when the ticket may go up to ¥10.
- **Old cypresses and pagoda trees** at the foot of the hill — shade, benches and the morning singing groups.

## Coal Hill: a short history

A hill stood north of the palace in Yuan times, but today's Jingshan was piled up in the early 15th century under the Yongle Emperor, from the earth dug out for the Forbidden City's moat. It was the palace's private back garden — closed to everyone but the court. Locals have long called it **Coal Hill** (Meishan), after an old story that the emperors kept a hidden coal stash there.

The Qianlong Emperor gave the hill its present look: Shouhuang Hall was moved to the north side in 1749 and the five pavilions went up in 1750. The garden opened to the public in 1928. In 2024 it was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the Beijing Central Axis, the 7.8-kilometre line that runs from the Drum and Bell Towers south through the palace — and Wanchun Pavilion is its highest point.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Coming straight from the Forbidden City — South Gate, opposite Shenwumen
- [ ] A few yuan in cash, WeChat Pay or Alipay
- [ ] Passport with me in case I buy online
- [ ] Here an hour before sunset, or at opening
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — the steps to the top are steep
- [ ] 景山公园西门 saved for a taxi
- [ ] Energy left for Beihai next door

## Jingshan vs Beihai vs Temple of Heaven

|  | Jingshan Park | Beihai Park | Temple of Heaven |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Hill with pavilions over the Forbidden City | Imperial lake garden with the White Dagoba | Park with imperial altars |
| Ticket, Nov–Mar | ¥2 | ¥5, combo ¥15 | ¥10, ¥28 with halls |
| Ticket, Apr–Oct | ¥2 | ¥10, combo ¥20 | ¥15, ¥34 with halls |
| Booking | Not needed, tickets at the gates | Not needed, tickets at the gates | Passport, 1–7 days ahead |
| Opens, Nov–Mar | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:00 |
| Time needed | 45 minutes | 2 hours | 2–3 hours |

Jingshan is the shortest and cheapest of the three, but it's the only way to see the Forbidden City from above. Beihai is across the road — do them as one walk. The Temple of Heaven is down south and deserves a morning of its own.

## Beijing from above, compared

Places with a view in Beijing rated by YesGo.

- [Tiananmen Gate](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/tiananmen-gate) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥15, concession ¥5, booking only
- [Houhai Lake and Shichahai](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/houhai-lake) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free
- [Jingshan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥2, ¥10 during exhibitions
- [Drum and Bell Towers](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-drum-and-bell-towers) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥30 for both towers
- [Beihai Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beihai-park) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥5–10, ¥15–20 with the island
- [Summer Palace](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-summer-palace) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h 30 min · ¥20–30, ¥50–60 through ticket
- [Olympic Park and Bird's Nest](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-olympic-park) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Park free; Bird's Nest ≈ ¥50–100
- [Central Radio & TV Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-tv-tower) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · CNY 90
- [Great Wall at Badaling](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/badaling-great-wall) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ¥40 entry; ¥35 November–March
- [Great Wall at Juyongguan](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/juyongguan-great-wall) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥35 entry; ¥40 April–October
- [Great Wall at Mutianyu](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/great-wall-mutianyu) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥40–45 entry; cable car ¥100–140
- [Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/gubei-water-town) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥140 entry; ¥170 with Simatai wall
- [Longqing Gorge](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/longqing-gorge) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥40, boat ¥100

## Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, Jingshan and Beihai in a day

The square in the morning, the palace from south to north, Jingshan hill across the road, then Beihai and the Houhai lakes in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Tiananmen Square](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/tiananmen-square) — YesGo score 68/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free, passport booking
2. [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h 30 min · ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct
3. [Jingshan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥2, ¥10 during exhibitions
4. [Beihai Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beihai-park) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥5–10, ¥15–20 with the island
5. [Houhai Lake and Shichahai](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/houhai-lake) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free

## Good to know

Don't mix it up with Jinshanling (金山岭), a section of the Great Wall in Hebei, or with Jingshan (京山), a city in Hubei province. The Chinese name 景山公园 (Jǐngshān Gōngyuán) roughly means “Scenic Hill Park”. There's no dress code — the pavilions and halls are run as museum sights.

## Tips

- Put Jingshan straight after the Forbidden City: the Shenwumen exit faces the park's South Gate.
- The West Gate path to the top is shorter and steeper; the East Gate route is longer and gentler.
- For palace photos, come an hour before sunset rather than at midday, when you're shooting into the sun.
- Carry small change: ¥2 in cash beats fiddling with a phone at the ticket window.
- Google Maps is blocked in China without roaming or a VPN — save an offline map and 景山公园西门 before you go.
- Leave by the West Gate for Beihai, then walk north to the Houhai lakes and the hutongs.
- After a snowfall, go up straight away: the white palace roofs don't last, and the summit fills fast on those days.

## Questions

### How much is the Jingshan Park ticket?

¥2, or ¥1 for concessions. During exhibitions, usually in spring peony season, it's ¥10 and ¥5.

### Do I need to book Jingshan Park in advance?

No. The South, West and East gates sell tickets on the spot; you can also buy 1–7 days ahead in the 畅游公园 WeChat account with your passport.

### What are Jingshan Park's opening hours?

Daily: November–March 6:30–20:00, last entry 19:30; April–October 6:00–21:00, last entry 20:30.

### How do I get to Jingshan Park from the Forbidden City?

Leave by the north gate, Shenwumen, and cross the road — Jingshan's South Gate is directly opposite, 2–3 minutes away.

### Which metro station is closest to Jingshan Park?

Shichahai on Line 8 (Exit A2) for the West Gate, or Nanluoguxiang on Lines 6 and 8 for the East Gate — both about 15 minutes on foot.

### When is the best time to visit Jingshan Park?

An hour before sunset for golden light on the palace roofs, or at opening for an empty summit. Avoid midday, when the sun is in your face.

### How long do you need at Jingshan Park?

About 45 minutes for the climb and the view; an hour and a half with Shouhuang Hall and the peony garden.

### Is Jingshan Park worth visiting?

Yes. For ¥2 and a short climb you get the best view of the Forbidden City, right next to its exit.

### Why is Jingshan called Coal Hill?

An old story says the emperors stored coal inside the hill, so locals nicknamed it Meishan, or Coal Hill.

## How we checked

Prices, hours and the address come from the Beijing Municipal Government; that no booking is needed, which gates sell tickets and how you can pay come from the government's 12345 hotline (2025). The official page doesn't say who qualifies for concessions; free entry for children and seniors is from guides and marked checking. When the exhibition price applies isn't stated officially; the link to peony season is from guides. The government's September notice on Monday closures doesn't mention Jingshan, and Shouhuang Hall's hours appear only on resellers and disagree, so we leave them out. One guide says the South Gate is often closed while the hotline lists it as a ticket gate; we follow the official answer and give the West and East gates as alternatives. Walking times from the metro are estimated from Wikidata coordinates. The park opened to the public in 1928 (Beijing government and Wikipedia). All three Wikipedias give the hill's height as 45.7 m.

## Sources

- Beijing Municipal Government, english.beijing.gov.cn — Ticketing, Parks: Jingshan Park (prices, hours, address, online sales)
- Beijing Municipal Government, 12345 hotline FAQ on Jingshan Park tickets (2025) — no booking required, which gates sell tickets, payment methods
- Beijing Municipal Government, Park Tours — September notice on Monday closures (Jingshan not listed); Shouhuang Hall Complex page
- Visit Beijing (official Beijing tourism portal): Jingshan articles (2020, 2022) and a Shouhuang Hall article from Beijing Daily (2019)
- English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia: Jingshan Park, Цзиншань (парк), 景山公园; English Wikipedia, Beijing Central Axis; Wikidata Q734499
- English Wikipedia: Beijing Subway Lines 1, 6 and 8; walking distances from Wikidata coordinates
- Wanderin China — metro exit, summit paths, peonies, concessions (unofficial)
- YesGo China and Beijing notes: paying with foreign cards, Forbidden City hours

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