Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan)
Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan)
4.5
About
Built in 1530, this is one of the oldest parks in Beijing that once served as an altar site where the emperor made sacrificial offerings to the sun god.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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- Dongdaqiao • 9 min walk
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3,143 within 3 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
260 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
91
Average
36
Poor
1
Terrible
0
chewie999
South Australia, Australia276 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
I wouldn't go out my way to visit this park. But if you are staying in the area, it is well worth a visit to see Beijinger's go about their lives.
The lake in the South Western corner of the park was spectacular with flowering water Lillie's and rock formations behind it making it perfect for stunning photos.
The Temple of the Sun was just a platform and there are restoration works on the buildings in the North of the park at the time of my visit.
There is a kids amusement area with rides costing 20 yuan. The rides are for smaller children up to the age of 10. Around 15 to choose from.
The lake in the South Western corner of the park was spectacular with flowering water Lillie's and rock formations behind it making it perfect for stunning photos.
The Temple of the Sun was just a platform and there are restoration works on the buildings in the North of the park at the time of my visit.
There is a kids amusement area with rides costing 20 yuan. The rides are for smaller children up to the age of 10. Around 15 to choose from.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwa829
Redmond, WA680 contributions
Nov 2013 • Solo
Like in many big cities, it can be difficult in Beijing to find jogging routes where you're not dodging traffic and waiting seemingly endlessly to cross streets. Ritan Park provides an excellent venue for running, jogging, and walking in a scenic urban oasis among trees, bushes, flowers, ponds, and well-manicured grass.
Ritan Park is very convenient to the St. Regis Hotel and the Diplomatic Residence Compound. There is a paved running/ walking path around the circumference of the park. I'd estimate each lap around is about 0.7 or 0.8 mile (or a little over 1 km). The pavement is primarily brick, but the bricks are laid flat and flush so there is little tripping hazard. The terrain is completely flat; the most elevation you'll encounter is an ornamental bridge near the southwest end of the park.
Most of the people on the path will be walking. Fortunately there seems to be an unwritten rule that the path is to be walked or run upon in a counterclockwise fashion, You can generally weave your way among the walkers easily, without having to vary your pace, but perhaps once per lap you may have to break your rhythm. But it beats playing real-life "Frogger" if you try jogging along the streets of Beijing.
While running, you can enjoy taking in the many sites of the park and the activities of its visitors. You'll see people engaged in such activities as tai chi, badminton, dancing, photography, playing on the playgrounds, calligraphy (using water on the pavement to create ephemeral works of art), and many others.
The U.S. television Program "Sunday Morning" on the CBS Television Network did a story about Ritan Park on its November 10, 2013 edition that you can search for and watch online if you're interested (I won't post URL here because I am not sure if that violates this site's terms & conditions).
I last visited in November 2013 but the pictures attached are from a July 2012 visit.
Ritan Park is very convenient to the St. Regis Hotel and the Diplomatic Residence Compound. There is a paved running/ walking path around the circumference of the park. I'd estimate each lap around is about 0.7 or 0.8 mile (or a little over 1 km). The pavement is primarily brick, but the bricks are laid flat and flush so there is little tripping hazard. The terrain is completely flat; the most elevation you'll encounter is an ornamental bridge near the southwest end of the park.
Most of the people on the path will be walking. Fortunately there seems to be an unwritten rule that the path is to be walked or run upon in a counterclockwise fashion, You can generally weave your way among the walkers easily, without having to vary your pace, but perhaps once per lap you may have to break your rhythm. But it beats playing real-life "Frogger" if you try jogging along the streets of Beijing.
While running, you can enjoy taking in the many sites of the park and the activities of its visitors. You'll see people engaged in such activities as tai chi, badminton, dancing, photography, playing on the playgrounds, calligraphy (using water on the pavement to create ephemeral works of art), and many others.
The U.S. television Program "Sunday Morning" on the CBS Television Network did a story about Ritan Park on its November 10, 2013 edition that you can search for and watch online if you're interested (I won't post URL here because I am not sure if that violates this site's terms & conditions).
I last visited in November 2013 but the pictures attached are from a July 2012 visit.
Written November 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James H
Beijing, China42 contributions
Stuck near the Central Business District in Beijing and have an hour or two to kill before your next meeting? Exhausted from a full day of haggling at Silk Street and need to take a break? Then head over to Ritan Park, a green oasis in the middle of this bustling city. This place is occupies less than one square kilometer, and yet checks all the boxes for an urban retreat. Hills? Check. Lakes? Check. Rock climbing? Check. Random senior citizens dancing in line to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” blasting on a boombox? Check. You can’t go wrong at Ritan Park.
Written January 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicu moraru
Bucharest182 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
A nice , peaceful place, nothing spectacular. Lots of people dancing, singing or even playing violin.
Written May 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Macau, China96 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
I like this part of Beijing. It's not so busy, and there's plenty of bars and cafes hidden away on the different streets. If you're feeling adventurous, I recommend you try Maggie's bar at the corner of this park.
Written January 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aussie69Australia
Australia72 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Ritan Park was a favourite place while in Beijing for a week, our tour guide explained that because the chinese live in small apartments in the city, they congregate in the city parks after work and at weekends for their relaxation, to play with their kids, to exercise, dance, tai chi etc. The tour we were on was pretty full on so it was a real pleasure to go and sit in this beautiful park and just watch the locals at play, it gave is a better idea of their lifestyle, away from the tourist areas
Written September 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alienandbear
Daly City, California, United States155 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
When I was a kid I used to come here a lot to play.
They had different things from fishing, to riding or small ferris wheels to bumper cars.
Now it's kind of a shadow of its former self.
Still...it's a nice way to escape the city in this small patch of green.
Nowadays you'll see a lot of people jogging here during the morning. Not a lot of elderly people practicing Tai Chi here anymore.
You could easily spend a day here as there are restaurants nearby.
It's free to get in.
You can wall climb here also.
Summary-
Wall climbing
Still some gold fish fishing
Nice place to take a jog.
Bathrooms squatters
They had different things from fishing, to riding or small ferris wheels to bumper cars.
Now it's kind of a shadow of its former self.
Still...it's a nice way to escape the city in this small patch of green.
Nowadays you'll see a lot of people jogging here during the morning. Not a lot of elderly people practicing Tai Chi here anymore.
You could easily spend a day here as there are restaurants nearby.
It's free to get in.
You can wall climb here also.
Summary-
Wall climbing
Still some gold fish fishing
Nice place to take a jog.
Bathrooms squatters
Written September 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dragonscreen
Beijing45 contributions
Mar 2012
A must visit in Beijing if you have the time. A 600 year old temple surrounded by a large, well-kept garden. An oasis of calm and great for walks or just relaxing. Also contains a practice rock climbing wall. Next to the old Moscow Restaurant and Schindler's Tankstelle.
Written March 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zjemi
Helsinki, Finland20 contributions
Oct 2019
It is both restful and interesting. People were playing music, singing, dancing, exercising. Lovely flowers displays line the walkways. Artistic rock displays rival the best in Guilin Park in Shanghai. We go there every time we are in Beijing.
Written November 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DandJandFam
London, UK167 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We were the only westerners in the park on a Saturday morning. It was delightful and interesting. We discovered there are ancient links - some of the Ming emperors used a temple there for sacrifices on the equinox. But there was more: the locals use the park for recreational purposes - as we walked around we witnessed a woman having a singing lesson while her talented instructor played an erhu (a two stringed violin); elsewhere was a Chinese dance lesson; others were doing western dance; families playing games; a climbing wall; kite flying from a pagoda; ponds and so on.
Written May 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Скажите, пожалуйста, какова площадь парка ( в гектарах ).
Rustem A
Moscow, Russia56 contributions
Добрый день! Ну, знаете, я же не фермер, даже приблизительно вам не скажу. Я всего лишь турист ). Думаю, если не останавливаться и не фотографироваться, я идти средним ходом по периметру, минут за 30 его можно обойти... Посчитайте ). Надеюсь, хоть чем-то помог.
Скажите, пожалуйста, какова площадь парка ( в гектарах ). В интернете ответ не нашёл
Elena P
Yekaterinburg, Russia495 contributions
Около 20 га.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan)
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- Restaurants near Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan):
- (0.12 mi) Ding TaiFeng (Fang CaoDi)
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- (0.11 mi) Xiheyaju Restaurant
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