Pack It Up, Pack It In: Fantastic Picnic Feasts and Where to Take Them

Pack It Up, Pack It In: Fantastic Picnic Feasts and Where to Take Them

Robynne Tindall, Contributing Editor | Aug 19, 2015 9:00 am | Add a comment | 2541 reads

'Tis the season for picnics and among the city’s many parks – both manmade and natural – Beijing offers some excellent picnic spots. We rounded up some of our favorite lesser-known picnic spots, as well as some easy options for picnic fodder that won’t have you trapped in the kitchen while the good weather goes on outside.

Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace)
Avoid the tourist-packed main area near Yuanmingyuan subway station and head instead to the park’s west or southwest gates, where you will find vast expanses of well- tended grass on which to lay out your picnic blanket. Be sure to bring a parasol, as there is very little shade.
RMB 25. Daily 7am-9pm (summer), 7am-7.30pm (winter). 28 Qinghua Xilu, Haidian District (6262 8501)
圆明园遗址公园:海淀区清华西路28号

Temple of Heaven
Take your picnic in a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Temple of Heaven. Head west from the busy main axis of the park towards the Zhaigong (Fasting Palace) for quiet areas of grass shaded by ancient trees.
RMB 15 (park only). Daily 6am-8pm. 1A Tiantan Lu, Chongwen District (6702 8866)
天坛公园:崇文区天坛路甲1号

Olympic Forest Park
Constructed for the 2008 Olympic Games, this manmade park has a good balance of trees, lakes, and open spaces. The more active in your group can go for a run on one of the many marked trails before sitting down to lunch.
Free. Daily 6am-8pm (summer), 8am-6pm (winter). 33 Kehui Lu, Bei Sihuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (6452 9060)
奥林匹克森林公园:朝阳区北四环中路科荟路33号

Beijing International Sculpture Park
If you fancy eating your sandwiches among some kooky statues, then this is the park for you. Located near to Babaoshan on Line 1, the park features some surprisingly good expanses of grass in between the sculpture exhibitions from China and abroad.
RMB 10. Daily 6.30am-7.30pm (summer), 8am-5.30pm (winter). 2 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District (6865 0422)
北京国际雕塑公园:石景山区石景山路2号

Liuyin Park
What Liuyin Park lacks in grass it more than makes up for in serenity. A slice of green among the residential clamor of Andingmenwai, the many benches set under the park’s namesake willow trees make it a good spot for a quiet picnic with a friend or two.
Free. Daily 6am-8.30pm. 8 Huangsi Dajie, Andingmen Waidajie, Dongcheng District (8413 1660)
柳荫公园:东城区安定门外大街黄寺大街8号

Daoxiang Lake Park
Located in the wilds of northwest Haidian, Daoxiang Lake Park has plenty of space for both picnicking and barbecuing, complete with a background of mountain views. Stock up on repellant before you go – mosquitos are abundant by the water.
Free. Daily 8am-10pm. Daoxianghu Lu, Haidian District
稻香湖公园:海淀区稻香湖路

Pick up a picnic to go

The Rug, RMB 248: The Rug’s picnic brunch includes an old-school wicker basket that holds a selection of organic sandwiches and salads. They’ll even take you to a secret picnic spot near their Chaoyang Park store. (8550 2722)

Modo Urban Deli, RMB 200-400: Modo’s picnic tote can be filled with a variety of dishes depending how hungry you are and you can add a chilled bottle of wine for RMB 90. Call 15 minutes in advance then pick up from the store. (6417 7207)

Comptoirs de France, sandwiches from RMB 46: If you’re in one of the more central parks, order some French-style sandwiches and pastries from Comptoirs de France via delivery service youcansong.com.

Traitor Zhou’s + Jing-A Brewing, from RMB 30: Head to 1949: The Hidden City and pick up one of Traitor Zhou’s ready-made bagels to go, then grab a growler of Jing-A Brewing’s finest on your way out. (Jing-A Brewing, 6501 8883)

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