The Best Parks to Visit This Summer in China

Parks play a crucial role in the social lives of many Chinese people. Here, we look at some of China’s best parks to enjoy an afternoon or picnic with friends or family.

With so many densely populated cities that contain high rise tower blocks and relatively little free space, parks are one of the few outlets in China that provide the freedom to walk in open spaces, marvel at trees and colourful flowers, and of course to socialise with neighbours and friends. As temperatures begin to cool at dusk, most parks come alive with groups of people singing, dancing and exercising. Daytime is therefore an ideal time to visit a park as it will be less crowded, and the following parks offer visitors the perfect location for a summer picnic.

Mangrove Seashore Park, Shenzhen

Although it is arguably more well known locally for its amazing bird watching opportunities, the Mangrove Seashore Park in the southern city of Shenzhen offers one of China’s best picnic spots. As most people visiting the park intend to spend their time near the mangroves watching the birds in their natural habitat, just behind is a secluded stretch of park which overlooks Shenzhen Bay. The view is quite spectacular, and given its isolation and quietness, is perfect for a family or romantic afternoon picnic. The grassy area is dotted with coconut palm trees and a number of walking routes which allow visitors to stroll and explore the area uninterrupted.

The park is relatively easy to get to by taxi from downtown Shenzhen and there is no admittance fee.

Address: Mangrove Seashore Ecological Park, Mangrove Nature Reserve, Che Gong Miao, Futian District, Shenzhen 51804

Century Park, Shanghai

As one of the few parks in Shanghai that offers visitors either a relaxing or fun-filled day of activities, Century Park is the largest and one of the city’s most popular parks in summertime. While much of the green space is quickly filled from early morning with kids playing badminton, football or flying kites, there is always enough room in early afternoon to enjoy a picnic. With a number of small lakes, bicycle routes and even a chance to ride a hot air balloon, Century Park is also a great place to take the family for a fun afternoon before retiring to the grass to relax and eat. It is worth mentioning however that the park gets very busy at weekends and an early arrival is recommended.

Located near the busy financial district of Pudong, Century Park is well serviced by public transport and is on metro line two. Entrance fee for one day is RMB10, and there are a number of public entrances along the Huamu Road side of the park.

Address: Century Park, Huamu Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Chaoyang Park, Beijing

When it comes to parks, Beijingers are literally spoilt for choice. There are hundreds of parks in the city, some big and some not so big. What it means is that for most residents, there is always a park nearby to enjoy the warm summer weather. It almost sounds too good to be true. Alas, most of Beijing’s parks have strict rules and regulations about where people can and cannot congregate, which usually means that the perfectly cut and manicured grass is not for walking or sitting on.

One park bucks the trend, however. Chaoyang Park is the largest urban park in Asia and has ample green space on which visitors are allowed sunbathe, picnic, play sports, fly kites and generally enjoy the open spaces. Unsurprisingly, it is also one of the busiest parks in the capital. The park has plenty of trees, providing perfect and natural cover from the hot sun. It is a popular spot for families, and added attractions include sports grounds, a boating lake and an amusement park. During summer, a number of outdoor concerts and other events are held here. Admission is a mere RMB5 for the day, and the park is easily accessible by metro and bus.

Address: Chaoyang Gongyuan, Nongzhan Nan Lu, Chaoyang District

People’s Park, Chengdu

The city of Chengdu, capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, is famous for its hills and mountains, wonderful scenery and close proximity to the panda nature reserves. While downtown Chengdu resembles most large Chinese cities, one would assume that given its location in one of the most picturesque parts of the country that there may be a lack of parks deep in the city itself. Wrong. There are a number of highly rated parks in the city, although just one seems to have caught the affection of most city residents.

The People’s Park in central Chengdu is viewed by many as the city’s main park. While the park itself is not really that spectacular, it is easily the liveliest. Throngs of residents visit it daily to exercise, sing, dance, play cards or mahjong, talk about current affairs and even to learn English (the park has an English corner where students invite foreigners to sit and talk, thus helping them to practice speaking the language outside of the classroom). Finding a suitable spot for a picnic may be tricky, and some families might have to improvise and opt to sit down and eat at bamboo tables rather than on grass. As the name suggests, however, this park is all about the people in it and there are some wonderful and interesting goings on at every turn.

Address: People’s Park, 12 Shaocheng Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu

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