Located at the south end of Bai Shi Qiao (bái shí qiáo 白石桥) Road and near the west of the Capital Gymnasium in Hai Dian District, the Purple Bamboo Garden is a mountain-water landscaped garden. As the name suggests, the garden has a large variety of bamboos, more than 50 species, with the most prominent being the black bamboo. It covers an area of 14 hectares (gōng qǐng 公顷), including three lakes and two small islands on the lakes. Five arched bridges connect the lakes, isles and main garden area and there are scattered corridors and pavilions throughout. 

For visitors who are fond of bamboo and wide waters, Zizhuyuan Park is hard to beat. West of the Capital Gymnasium in Haidian District, this park is renowned for its bamboo scenery. Three lakes, filled with lotus blossoms, occupy one third of the area. They are connected with two islets (xiǎo dǎo 小岛) by five arch bridges. Pavilions, corridors and bridges hide in the tall bamboo all across the park.

Since Zizhu in Chinese means purple bamboo, visitors may eagerly want to see this species of bamboo. Every year, people crowd to the Bamboo Culture Festival held from April to June. And once, there was a Zizhuyuan Temple on the north bank of the biggest lake, hence the park's name. Entering the park, visitors find themselves in a bamboo world: the entrance, tables and chairs are made of bamboo; even the bridges and pavilions are decorated with bamboo. A grand Dai-style (dǎi zú fēng gé 傣族风格) bamboo bridge lets visitors see how the Dai people find shelter from the rain. Slowly revolving bamboo waterwheels; visitors dancing the eerie 'bamboo dance'; actors performing on a bamboo stage-all of these give you a glance of southern China's Dai culture. Stores along the lake bank also sell fancy bamboo craft works.

With all these in the limelight, you might overlook the treasures still in the shadows. In the north of the park, there is enchanting and quiet Yunshi Garden. A hexagonal (liù biān xíng 六边形) pavilion, an elaborate courtyard and bamboos disperse in picturesque disorder, harmonizing with the gentle slope and artificial hills in this garden. Visitors can also find additional pavilions on the two islets (xiǎo dǎo 小岛). The pavilion in the south islet provides a whole view of the park while at the edge of the north islet stands a double-storey waterside pavilion.

In summer, floating down the river and enjoying the delectable aroma (fāng xiāng 芳香) of fragrant lotus blossoms is a marvelous way to relax. And nowadays, the Zizhuyuan Park is open to visitors for free, allowing more people to enjoy the bamboo scenery.

                                   (Click above picture to view the map)

Admission Fee: Free
Tel: 010-6842 5851
Address: 45 Baishiqiao Road (bái shí qiáo lù 白石桥路)
Public Transportation: You can take bus No. 114, 118, 206, 211, 334, 347, 360, 362, 482, 601, 714, 804, 809 to Zizhuyuan Nanmen (zǐ zhú yuàn nán mén 紫竹院南门), and then you could walk to the Zizhuyuan Park (zǐ zhú yuàn gōng yuán 紫竹院公园).
Opening Hours: May 1-September 30  06:00-22:00
                         October 1-April 30     06:00-21:00

tags: Travel in Shanxi      Travel in Tibet