Enhance the -sense of green gain- Beijing’s ecological construction shifts from green quantity growth to quality improvement

Beijing has been on a mission this year to enhance its ecological environment, aligning with its vision of becoming a garden city. With the current number of parks reaching 1,065, the capital is transitioning from simply incorporating greenery within the city to blending green spaces seamlessly with urban living, which fosters collaborative urban renewal.

During a press conference titled “Garden City, Colorful Autumn in Beijing” on October 17, Sha Haijiang, Deputy Director and spokesperson of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscaping and Forestry, shared that in the first half of the year, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government issued the “Beijing Garden City Special Plan (2023-2035).” Each district has also begun implementing a series of top-tier designs that clarify the “roadmap” and “task list” for building a garden city.

The city is dedicated to enhancing biodiversity. Efforts to improve the forest ecosystem continue, with the addition of three large-scale suburban parks this year, effectively linking urban areas to the outskirts. Beijing has increased its urban green spaces by 200 hectares, and constructed 15 new recreational parks such as the Daxin Park in Haidian and Kangxin Park in Fengtai, along with 50 pocket parks in districts including Xicheng and Chaoyang.

In line with its biodiversity goals, Beijing is planning a national botanical garden system and has completed the planning and design for genetic resource banks. Additionally, nine “habitat gardens” have been established across the city to enhance urban resilience and create harmonious environments where people and nature coexist.

Beijing’s approach to its garden city initiative places a strong emphasis on community engagement and accessibility to green spaces. A recreational park system has been proposed that connects urban parks, natural parks, and urban greenways. The city has successfully renovated 161 parks to eliminate boundaries, improved 20 age-friendly parks, and upgraded the functions of 20 suburban parks to make visits easier for citizens. The “Beijing Greenway” brand has been thoughtfully developed, with a total of 1,515 kilometers of greenways completed. Notable projects such as the Chaoyang District’s “Five Towns and Ten Parks” greenway and the Shijingshan section of the Xishan greenway, totaling 159 kilometers, now connect parks, residential areas, and commercial zones, creating safe and beautiful commuting routes for residents.

In addition, Beijing promotes ecological cultural activities to enrich the green lifestyle of its citizens. Since last year, initiatives centered around the seasons—spring flowers, summer fruits, autumn leaves, and winter birds—have been launched to create a “Four Seasons Garden” experience for the public. The recent “Beijing Fruit Fragrance” event welcomed over 8 million visitors to 3,000 orchards, resulting in 208,000 tons of fruit sold.

Beijing is also transforming its parks from mere “landscape” to engaging “experiences.” This year, the Xishan National Forest Park hosted the 14th Zero Carbon Forest Music Festival, and the Wenyu River Park introduced its first Forest Bird Music Festival, successfully rallying social participation to create a vibrant green audiovisual feast. This fall, the second Family Gardening Carnival is bringing the beauty of gardening to prominent commercial areas like Wangfujing, Huamao Center, and Financial Street, stimulating consumer interest with floral displays.

During the National Day celebrations, over 100 parks organized 220 festive events, attracting 12.21 million visitors. Evening activities like the “Beijing Colorful Lantern Festival” at the Beijing Garden Expo and the light show at Ritan Park have pioneered a new park visit model that allows for both daytime sightseeing and nighttime festivities, thereby boosting Beijing’s night economy.

Additionally, the Yuyuantan Park has become a pilot site for incorporating robotics into landscaping, launching 17 types of robotic products for test runs in cleaning, entertainment, information guiding, and commercial delivery scenarios, marking a new chapter in combining ecological stewardship with smart technology.

As temperatures cool, the prime season for leaf viewing has arrived. At the press conference, Sha Haijiang highlighted several great spots for enjoying the colorful foliage this fall. The Badaling National Forest Park boasts over 50,000 colorful trees, such as yellow larch and maple, set against the majestic backdrop of the Great Wall. Meanwhile, the Populus euphratica trees at the Pofengling in Fangshan District create a mesmerizing autumn landscape.

In comparison to mountainous areas, the timing for foliage changes slightly lags in Beijing’s suburbs and urban centers. The 36th Xiangshan Red Leaf Festival kicked off on October 11. Sha noted that with a total of 1,065 parks in Beijing, there’s no need for citizens to crowd into popular spots—comfort and convenience are just around the corner.

The Ginkgo Avenue at Ditan Park in Dongcheng District attracts many visitors with over 200 ginkgo trees turning a brilliant yellow in late autumn; the historical Yue Tan Park in Xicheng features numerous ginkgo and maple trees that are perfect for autumn exploration. The Olympic Forest Park in Chaoyang, the largest park in the city, showcases thousands of colorful trees that display a stunning array of autumn hues in phases.

Beyond the many breathtaking autumn views, Beijing is utilizing parks, horticultural stations, and urban gardens to create diverse thematic activities around leaf viewing and recreation, inviting residents to savor the rich flavors of seasonal fruits found in the capital.