Jingshan Park at a glance
Jingshan Park is a city park north of the Forbidden City. Its best-known spot is the Wanchun Pavilion, a raised viewpoint with a view over the palace and along the central axis of the city. From up there you see the yellow roofs of the halls in rows, one behind the other.
The park is a separate site from the palace. You pay for it separately, and the opening hours differ. A clear view is never guaranteed, because haze and weather change what you see.
Jingshan Park opening hours and entry
Two seasons, as with the palace, but the times are different.
| Season | Opens | Closes | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April to 31 October | 06:00 | 21:00 | 20:30 |
| 1 November to 31 March | 06:30 | 20:00 | 19:30 |
The regular price is CNY 2 for adults and CNY 1 reduced. That figure comes from a 2024 city listing. Special exhibitions inside the park can raise the entry to CNY 10 or CNY 5, so check the price on the day.
Check the current booking rule for foreign visitors before you go. Do not plan only around buying a ticket at the gate.
Our picks: Jingshan Park tickets
Park entry for the viewpoint north of the palace, with or without an online audio guide.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Jingshan Park with online audio guide
Park ticket, an English PDF guide and a GPS-based online audio guide in English, Korean and Japanese. There is no live guide and no headset, and Forbidden City entry is not included.
Check availability →
Jingshan Park entry with QR code
Park entry as a QR code, for the viewpoint just north of the Forbidden City. A guide, transport and meals are not included.
Check availability →Forbidden City tours and Beijing day trips
Guided visits that combine the palace with other Beijing sights, with live prices and availability.
The view from the Wanchun Pavilion
The pavilion stands on a raised point in the park. It looks south over the palace and along the central axis. The palace itself follows that axis: a symmetrical plan with the outer court in the south and the inner court in the north.
That makes the park useful for understanding the layout. Before or after your visit, you can see how the great halls line up from the gate to the north.
In winter the roofs can carry snow. Do not plan around a perfect sunset or a clear sky. The view depends on the day, and no clear view is promised.
How to combine the park with the palace
The palace walk runs south to north, so the park is a natural next stop.
Park first, palace second
The park opens at 06:00 from 1 April to 31 October and at 06:30 from 1 November to 31 March. The palace opens at 08:30. A morning at the viewpoint fits before your palace slot.
Palace first, park second
The palace route ends in the north, at Shenwumen or Donghuamen. The park lies north of the palace, so you can continue there afterward. Check your map for the way.
Forbidden City map and route →Mind the end of the day
The palace closes at 17:00 in the high season and at 16:30 in the low season. The park stays open later, which suits an evening visit after the palace.
Parking
The museum's visitor guide mentions no parking lot of its own and a limited number of public spaces on Jingshan Houjie. Plan for the subway or a taxi instead of a car.
When time is short
A simple order of priorities.
The palace needs a real-name reservation, an original passport and a time slot. The park asks for much less planning, and it keeps long hours. If your palace slot is the only fixed point of your day, build the park around it.
Pick the park in the early morning if you want a quiet start before the palace opens at 08:30. Pick it after the palace if your slot runs late and you still want to see the roofs from above. The palace is closed on Mondays except on public holidays, so on a Monday check the current notices for both sites before you plan around either.
Plan the rest of your Beijing visit
Where the park fits.
The Meridian Gate
The only way into the palace, and how the exits work.
Best time to visit Beijing
Weather, crowds and holidays.
Where to stay in Beijing
Areas east of the palace and beyond.
Palace opening hours
Seasons, last entry and the Monday rule.
The Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall are separate sights with their own guides and need their own planning.
Jingshan Park: frequently asked questions
How much does Jingshan Park cost?
The regular price is CNY 2 for adults and CNY 1 reduced, according to a 2024 city listing. Exhibition periods can cost CNY 10 or CNY 5. Check the price on the day.
What are the opening hours?
From 1 April to 31 October the park is open from 06:00 to 21:00 with last entry at 20:30. From 1 November to 31 March it is open from 06:30 to 20:00 with last entry at 19:30.
Where is the best view of the Forbidden City?
The Wanchun Pavilion is the raised viewpoint most visitors go to. It looks over the palace and along the central axis. A clear view is not guaranteed.
Is the park included in the palace ticket?
No. The park is a separate site with its own ticket and its own hours.
Do I need to book Jingshan Park in advance?
Check the current rule for foreign visitors before you go, and do not plan only around buying a ticket at the gate.