Practical Picnicking: Advice to Help You Pack Up And Head to Beijing's Parks

Public parks in Beijing may not be the best in the world given the unending drought but they do provide tranquil little nooks filled with lush greenery, where you can sit and contemplate love, life, the future of the global economy, or even picnic in reasonable peace. These areas give some much needed respite from the daily grind and the symphony of jackhammers pounding holes in the earth. But if you’re planning on doing a picnic there are some guidelines you must follow to keep things easy, fun, and safe as you venture into these natural spaces that have been gracefully carved out of our beloved megacity.

In here you’ll find practical suggestions to help both party animals and health freaks alike make the most of green public spaces. We will touch base on everything from the importance of a blanket, food and drink suggestions, and finally, how best to completely exploit the park to the benefit of you and your party.

Bring Coverage
When venturing into China’s outdoor public spaces, it is important to know that no surface is clean. There aren’t many exterior surfaces in this city that are beyond the reach of animal waste. We’ll just say it’s sexier to come to a picnic prepared, so to at least create a small amount of separation between you and all of the creepy crawlies on the other side of that nice soft blanket. Whether it’s two people, which is ideal for a successful picnic (wink wink), or a big group, a blanket, yoga mats, or a table and chairs will genuinely help your party seize the day and keep things hygienic.

Reasonable Food Options
Don’t get too fancy on us. The best trick is keeping the food simple and bringing a lot of it. While there are restaurants like The Rug and Modo Urban Deli that put together picnic baskets of various sizes and prices (RMB 200-490), if you prefer to leave it to the experts, even something like sandwiches and a large bag of fruit can go a long way. If you journey outside the city you can bring a grill but in most areas in Beijing this has been banned, and can result in a fine (RMB 50) if security cares enough to take action. The final commandment of casual outdoor feasting is to avoid too much mayonnaise. Just the idea of eating lots of hot summer mayo gives us a queasy feeling. Don’t do it!

Stay Hydrated or Drunk
There are so many options to staying hydrated that it is absurd. Beijing also has no open container laws, how great is that? Wheel those drinks in a cooler, if you’re reading this article in the future just use drone delivery, or wear a couple of backpacks filled with ice packs and some bottles of cheap Chardonnay. We have faith that you will know to do the right thing. Just don’t drink too much. Things like fighting, intimidating others, and other lewd behavior that park security might deem anti-social could result in a fine of RMB 50-100, even though at times it seems like the only thing they discourage is a grown man with his top off. If you want to go above and beyond in the drinks department refer to our punches article for superb ideas to make strong but delicious concoctions that are totally suitable for the great outdoors.

Pick Your Park Wisely
Most parks have special attributes that you must consider before choosing which is most suitable for your purpose. Of course, if you have limited time then pick the park that is closest to your place of residence. Some parks, besides having the customary amounts of grass for sitting and horseplay, also have a bunch of wet and wild activities that could make for a fun afternoon for you and your party. Don’t limit yourself to ping pong tables and stretching equipment.

RELATED: Beijing’s Best Urban Green Spaces

Chaoyang Park, in addition to having an insanely busy pool (that you might want to avoid), also has a climbing wall if that’s more your style. If you are looking for a park that’s not very busy and has a little of everything, Qingnianhu Park near Andingmen Station, is amazing. It also has a decent pool that’s usually very empty during the week, bumper cars at the kiddy amusement section, and paddle boats with water cannons so that you can reenact your favorite historical nautical battles. Any one of these extracurricular activities will up your picnic game.

This article first appeared in our magazine. Read the rest of the Beijinger July/August issue here.

More stories by this author here.

Email: danielkippwhittaker@thebeijinger.com

Photos: Uni, Wikimedia