Beijing Botanical Gardens

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  • Address
    Xiang Shan Zhiwuyuan, Yuquan Shan
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    6259 1283
  • Transport
    underground rail: Xizhimen, then bus 360 (via Beijing Zoo)
bus: 331 from Summer Palace
  • 06:00 - 20:00

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Lonely Planet review

The well-tended botanic gardens, set against the backdrop of the Western Hills, make for a pleasant outing among bamboo fronds, pines and lilacs. The Beijing Botanical Gardens Conservatory contains 3000 different types of plants and a rainforest house.

Within the grounds and about a 15-minute walk from the front gate (follow the signs) is Sleeping Buddha Temple (Wòfó Sì; adult Y5 ; ; - ). The temple, first built during the Tang dynasty, has a huge reclining effigy of Sakyamuni weighing 54 tonnes as a centrepiece, said to have 'enslaved 7000 people' in its casting. On each side of Buddha are arrayed some sets of gargantuan shoes, gifts to Sakyamuni from various emperors in case he went for a stroll.

On the eastern side of the gardens is the Cao Xueqin Memorial (Cáo Xuěqín Jìniànguǎn; 6259 5904; 39 Zhengbaiqi; around Y10 ; ; - ) where Cao Xueqin lived in his latter years. Cao (1715-63) is credited with penning the classic Dream of the Red Mansions , a vast and prolix family saga set in the Qing period.