Jiahe Park in Beijing

Jiahe Park(嘉河公园) is a popular urban green space located in the Fengtai District (丰台区) of Beijing (北京), offering local residents and visitors a relaxing environment with various leisure facilities. This park spans over 33,065.6 square meters and is designed as an accessible recreational area with fitness equipment, resting areas, and seating. Open year-round, Jiahe Park provides a perfect spot for family outings, walking, and outdoor activities.

Basic Information

Name: Jiahe Park (嘉河公园)

Location: Outside the southern third ring road, near Caocao Bridge (草桥) and You’an South Bridge (右安南桥), Fengtai District, Beijing (北京市丰台区南三环草桥辅路外侧)

Area: 33,065.6 square meters

Opening Hours: Open year-round, all day

Established: 2005

Facilities: Fitness equipment, seating areas, seasonal plant displays

Landscape: Differentiated vegetation showcasing four seasons

Location and Transportation

Jiahe Park is conveniently located near several key transport points in Fengtai District, offering easy access to public transit.

Geographical Location

The park is situated around 100 meters northeast of the intersection between Nan Sanhuan West Road (南三环西路) and Caocao East Road (草桥东路). It is bordered by Macao River (马草河) to the north and the Jiayuan Residential Area (嘉园小区) to the south. To the west, it is adjacent to You’an South Bridge (右安南桥), and Yuqianying Bridge (玉泉营桥) is located 1.6 kilometers to the east.

Public Transport

Bus: The park is serviced by 10 bus stations, including You’an South Bridge East (右安南桥东) and Yuqianying Bridge East (玉泉营桥东). Key bus lines such as Special 176, 134, 678, and Night 30 (Inner Loop) stop nearby.

Metro: The closest subway station is Jiaomen Dong Station (角门东站) on Line 10, which is about a 15-minute walk from the park.

Car: The park is located approximately 2.4 kilometers from the Fengtai District Government (丰台区政府), a 8-minute drive.

Park Features and Landscape

As a typical urban park, Jiahe Park includes three main functional zones, making it an ideal spot for relaxation, fitness, and enjoying nature.

Leisure and Fitness Area

Facilities: The park offers 12 sets of combination fitness equipment, along with non-slip mats and night-time lighting for safe usage.

Seating: Over 30 wooden benches are available along the pathways, allowing visitors to rest while enjoying the surroundings. The park also features purple-leafed plums (紫叶李) and Chinese locust trees (国槐), enhancing the beauty of the landscape.

Waterfront Viewing Area

The park features a viewing platform along the Macau River (马草河) embankment, which includes safety railings, offering a tranquil spot for visitors to enjoy the river scenery.

Green Landscape

Green Cover: Approximately 85% of the park’s area is covered with greenery, with more than 800 trees on the premises.

Spring Blooming Trees: Purple-leaf plums (紫叶李), peach trees (山桃), and forsythia (连翘).

Summer Shade Trees: Chinese locust (国槐), white ash (白蜡), and毛白杨.

Autumn Foliage: The park features maple trees (元宝枫) and ginkgo trees (银杏), creating vibrant autumn scenery.

Winter Evergreens: Pine and cypress trees (松柏) offer evergreen beauty, contrasting with the frozen surface of the Macau River in winter.

Seasonal Highlights

Spring (March–May): During spring, the park’s purple-leaf plums bloom, creating a stunning pink flower sea that stretches for 300 meters, with delicate branches hanging like willows. When the petals fall, they form a “cherry blossom rain” effect.

Summer (June–August): The white ash and Chinese locust trees create a thick canopy of shade, lowering the temperature by 3-5°C compared to surrounding areas, making it an ideal spot for escaping the summer heat.

Autumn (September–November): The maple trees turn red and yellow, complemented by the golden leaves of the ginkgo trees, creating a layered autumn landscape. The best viewing period is typically around the frost’s descent (霜降).

Winter (December–February): After snowfall, the evergreen pines and cypress trees add beauty to the park, with the ice-covered Macau River offering a peaceful winter view.

Upgrades and Enhancements

The Macau River Waterfront Revitalization Project (马草河沿线改造项目) started in March 2024 and will improve Jiahe Park by upgrading key elements such as:

Key Development Features:

Waterfront Walkway: The old fences will be removed, and three barrier-free ramps will be built to improve accessibility.

Cultural Wall: A cultural wall will be erected, showcasing the historical significance of the Caocao Bridge area (草桥地区).

Children’s Play Area: New playground facilities and safety mats will be added for children’s use.

Lighting Upgrade: 45 solar-powered street lamps and 120 landscape lights will be installed to enhance the park’s evening ambiance.

Walkway Expansion: The width of the walkways will be increased from 1.5 meters to 2.2 meters, and six new resting areas will be created.

Completion Timeline

The park’s upgrades are expected to be completed by December 2024, improving connectivity between surrounding residential areas, such as Jiayuan Residential Area (嘉园小区) and Caocao Xin Garden (草桥欣园), making the park more accessible to local residents and visitors. The project is already 40% completed as of June 2024.

Jiahe Park is a delightful urban escape in Beijing (北京), offering seasonal beauty, peaceful surroundings, and a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages.