From far-flung places in our recent Take the Subway series, we move closer to the city center for a look at a few spots that we think, while they may not be on any Beijing top sights lists, are definitely worth going out of your way to visit.
From our previous visit to one of Beijing’s newer museums, we head south to take a look at…
Yongdingmen Park (永定门公园 Yǒngdìngmén Gōngyuán)
Completed in 2004, Yongdingmen Park takes its name from the old outer city gate of the same name, which translates to “permanently stable gate”. While the original old gate is gone, the central focus of the modern-day park is its replica, which serves as a starting point for the Central Axis.
Why Visit?
Besides being the starting point for the path that snakes through the center of Beijing, Yongdingmen Park is a nice little spot to stroll, especially on any sunny day when there’s a nice breeze, as you’ll most likely find a lot of old timers flying their kites.
Beyond that, it’s a nice little foray into the capital’s history, with various monuments to be found within and around the park to get to know.
The Details
The park is open every day of the week from 6am 'til 10pm. Entry is free. To get there, it's best to take Subway Line 14 to Yongdingmen Wai Station and go out Exit A or Exit C, then walk north under the railway bridge until you find a pedestrian underpass that will take you to the park’s south entrance.
Yongdingmen Park 永定门公园
18 Binhe Lu, Yongdingmen Dong, Dongcheng District
东城区永定门东滨河路18号
Hours: Daily, 6am-10pm
Contact: 010 6769 2146
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Images: Uni You, theBeijingers
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