[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ife, as they say, is no picnic. Which is why we should all be having a lot more picnics. Nothing beats lolling on the grass, eating food with your hands and drinking a bit more than is appropriate for the time of day. But where are the best Beijing picnic spots? Here are our top tips, along with snack suggestions too.
For Romance: Old Summer Palace
Rambling, romantic and replete with stone ruins, the ‘Gardens of Perfect Brightness’ are big enough so that even on a weekend you’ll find a lovely shaded corner all to yourself.
Abandoned for more than a century after British and French soldiers burned it to the ground in 1860 in the Second Opium War, it was only in the 1980s that the government opened Yuanmingyuan to the public, electing to preserve its rough and tumble appearance as a park of remembrance.
Where? Yuanmingyuan Park has its own subway stop on line 4, just 30 minutes from the centre of town.
What to pack? Not cucumber sandwiches or French wine! Show your solidarity by going local. A round of takeaway roujiaomo “Chinese hamburgers” and a selection of Chinese cold dishes, washed down with a bottle of Grace Vineyards Chardonnay, China’s finest.
For Fun: Shichahai Lake
There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
So said Toad in The Wind in the Willows, but he forget to mention the food part. Pack a hamper, rent a boat at various jetties surrounding Houhai and Qianhai Lake (80 RMB per hour for electric boat, 300 RMB deposit, seats six), and you’ve got a floating picnic party!
Being on the water is a great way to escape the crowds, especially if you paddle to the tranquil western shore. Also (and this is based on experience), if you need any more cold drinks or cold beer, scoot to the edge and holler at one of the small shops. They’ll lower it down to your boat after you’ve tossed up the cash!
Where? Shichahai subway station (between Nanluoguxiang and Gulou on Line 8).
What to pack? Zongzi (glutinous rice stuffed with sweet or savoury fillings and wrapped in leaves) – get some to go from Hangzhou restaurant Kong Yi Ji on the southwest shore of Houhai; or rustle up a Toad Hall Trifle from The Wind in the Willows Country Cookbook.
For Kids: Chaoyang Park
There’s something for all the family at Beijing’s largest public park. Fairground rides (including a trio of rickety roller coasters), swimming pools with loungers and sandy bits, boat hire, tandem bikes and even 5-seater bikes, gazillions of fountains, lakes to feed fish, table tennis and other sports, and plenty of well-tended grassy areas to throw down a rug. We like it so much we came here for our company picnic last summer!
Where? Tuanjiehu (line 10) is the closest subway stop, but it’s probably best to take a taxi to the west gate, as you’ll be doing plenty of walking inside the park.
What to pack? It’s got to be an Urban Picnic from Modo (200 to 400 RMB). You can order them just 15 minutes in advance and pick them up from nearby Sanlitun. The midrange Urban Picnic Spread for 300 RMB includes hummus and flat bread, quiche of the day, salad, sandwich, bakes of the day, a bottle of San Pellegrino water and a sassy Tote bag! Add 90 RMB for a bottle of wine. Cutlery, napkins and glasses included.
For Wildlife: Olympic Forest Park
Built for the 2008 games and about a mile north of the Bird’s Nest, this is one of the city’s best landscaped green spaces. The wetlands here attract flocks of birds and legions of croaking toads in summer.
The best picnic spots are towards the centre of the park on or around the hill. Pick a footpath through the trees and find a shady spot. To work off your lunch, note that this is also Beijing’s best jogging venue, with a marked 3km, 5km and 10km road course.
Where? South Gate of Forest Park subway station (line 8) is right outside the park entrance.
What to pack? ‘Cos it’s an Olympic day out, bring along a nice Greek salad and some crusty bread. Gung-Ho! do a lovely one with crumbly feta and tasty kalamata olives. They won’t deliver that far so you’ll have to collect, but Annie’s will, for a minimum order of 100 RMB.
About the author: Tom O’Malley is Propaganda Secretary at Bespoke Beijing. A lifestyle journalist, guidebook author, glutton and bon vivant, Tom is a tireless crusader for fine food, hospitality and tourist experiences in China’s capital.