Dongsi Olympic Community Park in Beijing

Dongsi Olympic Community Park is China’s first open community park designed to promote the Olympic spirit. Located in the eastern part of Dongsi Olympic Community (东四奥林匹克社区) in the Dongcheng District (东城区) of Beijing (北京市), the park spans approximately 13,600 square meters. The layout is in the shape of the letter “L” and centers around the core Olympic values of “Friendship, Unity, Peace, Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The park features three large themed sculptures: “Sacred Flame”, “Olympic Family”, and “Olympic Wind”. The “Sacred Flame” sculpture stands 8 meters tall and depicts the Olympic torches from the 1896 Athens Olympics (雅典奥运会) to the 2008 Beijing Olympics (北京奥运会). The park serves both as a recreational space for local residents and as a venue for promoting the Olympic spirit. Future plans include the addition of a children’s playground. The park is also an integral part of the urban landscape along the East Second Ring Road (东二环路).

Location and Layout

The park is located in the eastern part of the Dongsi Olympic Community (东四奥林匹克社区) in the Dongcheng District (东城区) of Beijing (北京市). Its specific address is on the north side of Cangnan Hutong (仓南胡同), southeast of Douban Hutong Building 2 (豆瓣胡同2号楼), east of the East Second Ring Road (东二环路), adjacent to the Second Ring West Auxiliary Road (二环西附路) and near the Dongsi Mosque (东四清真寺). The park’s boundaries are Cangnan Hutong (仓南胡同) to the south and Nanmen Cang Hutong (南门仓胡同) to the north.

The park’s layout follows an L-shape and covers an area of approximately 13,600 square meters, making it an important urban landscape node along the East Second Ring Road (东二环路).

Thematic Sculptures

The park’s core landscape consists of three large Olympic-themed sculptures:

Sacred Flame Sculpture

The Sacred Flame sculpture stands at 8 meters tall and features a flame-shaped design. The sculpture is encircled by a ring, which is engraved with the torch designs from each Olympic Games, starting from the 1896 Athens Olympics (雅典奥运会) to the 2008 Beijing Olympics (北京奥运会).

Olympic Family Sculpture

The Olympic Family sculpture is made of granite reliefs and showcases the athletes and events of various Olympic sports, emphasizing the unity and diversity of the Olympic Games.

Olympic Wind Sculpture

The Olympic Wind sculpture, standing 6 meters tall, features the iconic five-ring design of the Olympics. It has become a distinctive landmark along the East Second Ring Road (东二环路), symbolizing the dynamic and enduring spirit of the Olympics.

Functions and Facilities

As an open community park, Dongsi Olympic Community Park (东四奥林匹克社区公园) serves several key functions:

Community Activities

The park provides a space for local residents to engage in daily exercise, social interactions, and small gatherings.

Children’s Entertainment

Plans to develop a children’s playground will strengthen the park’s role as a family-friendly location, enhancing its appeal for parent-child activities.

Cultural Dissemination

The park uses its sculptures and landscape design to promote the Olympic spirit (奥林匹克精神), educating visitors about the values of the Olympics through art and design.

The park is free to enter and is open all day. Visitors can take Line 6 of the Beijing Subway (北京地铁) to Chaoyangmen Station (朝阳门站), exit from Exit F, and walk about 412 meters to reach the park.

In the spring, the park is famous for its “new willow buds” landscape, making it a popular walking route for local residents.