Beining Park is located at No. 1 Zhongshan North Road, Hebei District, Tianjin. It is a comprehensive park with a history of over 100 years and is now a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Founded in 1906, the park was formerly known as the "Plantation". After multiple renovations and expansions, it has evolved into an urban park integrating garden landscapes, historical buildings, and leisure and entertainment. The scenic area features classical garden styles, combining the elegance of Jiangnan gardens with the grandeur of northern gardens. Within the park, waterside pavilions, winding bridges, flowing water, stacked hills, and placed stones complement each other. The vegetation coverage rate is high, presenting different scenery in all four seasons. The total area of the park is approximately 570,000 square meters, including a water area of about 180,000 square meters. It boasts many ancient buildings in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Zhiyuan Tower, the Nine-Bend Bridge, and the Deyue Pavilion. It is one of the oldest and most landscape-rich gardens in downtown Tianjin, and also an important place for citizens to relax and learn about local history and culture.
History and Culture
The history of Beining Park can be traced back to the 32nd year of the Guangxu Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1906). At that time, Yuan Shikai, the Governor of Zhili, founded the "Plantation" here to promote the New Deal, introducing various plants with both experimental and ornamental functions. During the Republic of China, the park was gradually expanded, with additional pavilions, terraces, and other facilities, and was renamed "Hebei Park", becoming an important public activity space in northern Tianjin.
After the founding of New China, the park underwent multiple renovations and was officially named "Beining Park" in 1958. In 1985, the construction of the Zhiyuan Tower, a landmark building in the park, began, and it was completed in 1989, becoming a cultural landmark of the park. As a representative of modern gardens in Tianjin, Beining Park has witnessed the development and changes of the city. The preserved historical buildings and garden layouts in the park reflect the gardening techniques and aesthetic styles of different periods, possessing important historical and cultural value.
Main Attractions
Zhiyuan Tower
The Zhiyuan Tower is the landmark building of Beining Park, located in the middle of the park. It is 74.24 meters high with 9 floors, an octagonal antique pavilion-style brick tower. The name of the tower is derived from the meaning of "being tranquil and far-sighted". The tower body is decorated with exquisite paintings and reliefs, demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional Chinese architecture. Visitors can climb the tower to overlook the entire park and the surrounding urban landscape. The tower is equipped with murals and exhibits showcasing Tianjin's history and culture, with each floor having a different theme, presenting the development process of Tianjin from various perspectives.
Nine-Bend Bridge
The Nine-Bend Bridge is located in the central water area of the park, connecting the Huxin Island with the shore. It gets its name because the bridge body is winding and has nine bends, with a total length of about 100 meters. The bridge is of stone structure, with railings on both sides, and the rail columns are carved with patterns such as stone lions, featuring exquisite shapes. Strolling on the bridge, you can enjoy the view of boats coming and going on the lake and willows hanging by the shore. It is a popular spot for taking photos and enjoying the scenery in the park. The end of the bridge is connected to the Huxin Island, where green trees provide shade and there are seats for visitors to rest.
Deyue Pavilion
Deyue Pavilion is a classical waterside pavilion built along the lake, with a construction area of about 300 square meters. It adopts a traditional brick-wood structure, with overhanging eaves and decorated beams and painted pillars, featuring a typical architectural style of Jiangnan gardens. The pavilion was once a gathering place for literati and scholars, and now serves as an exhibition hall, sometimes holding cultural activities such as calligraphy and painting exhibitions. Because the pavilion platform is close to the water surface, every moonlit night, the moon's reflection is mirrored in the water, forming a delightful contrast with the pavilion. Hence the name "Deyue" (meaning "obtaining the moon"), making it an excellent place in the park to enjoy the water scenery and the moon.
Diecui Mountain
Diecui Mountain is an artificial rockery landscape in the park, covering an area of about 8,000 square meters, with the highest point being about 15 meters. It is piled up with mud from lake dredging and stone materials. The mountain is densely covered with vegetation, with pine and cypress trees and shrubs scattered, remaining green all year round, hence the name "Diecui" (meaning "stacked greenery"). There are winding stone paths in the mountain, connecting to the viewing pavilion on the top. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the lakes, pavilions and other landscapes in the park with a wide view, making it a good place for visitors to climb for fitness and leisure viewing.
Food
Characteristic Snacks in the Park
There are snack stalls in Beining Park, offering local Tianjin snacks. Among them, Shuli Gao (steamed rice cake) is a traditional favorite among tourists. Shuli Gao is made by steaming rice ground into pulp, and served with different flavors of sauces (such as red bean paste, jam, white sugar, etc.), with a soft and sweet taste and an affordable price, about 5-8 yuan per serving. In addition, there are also Chatang (sweet millet porridge) and Tanghua (sugar painting) and other traditional snacks. Visitors can taste them during the tour to experience the urban flavor of Tianjin.
Surrounding Food
There are abundant catering resources around the park. There are many restaurants along Zhongshan North Road, about 500 meters away. Among them, "Xiaoli Roast Chicken" (Zhongshan Road Branch) is a well-known old brand in Tianjin. Its roast chicken has crispy skin and tender meat with a strong aroma, loved by both locals and tourists. A half roast chicken is about 30-40 yuan. In addition, there are traditional Tianjin restaurants nearby, offering special dishes such as Zengbeng Carp and Tiebobo Ao Xiaoyu (small fish stewed with corn cakes). Zengbeng Carp is a uniquely shaped traditional dish, made with fresh carp cooked with scales, sweet and sour, with a price of about 80-120 yuan per serving. Visitors can go to taste it after the tour.
Tickets
It is open for free. Some separate charge items in the park, such as boat rides and children's amusement facilities, need to be paid separately.
As of July 15, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 6:00-22:00 daily (summer) and 6:30-21:00 (winter). Among them, some scenic spots in the park, such as the Zhiyuan Tower, are open from 9:00-17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). Adjustments may be made on holidays or under special circumstances. Visitors can confirm the specific opening hours in advance through park announcements or on-site signs.
Tour Route
A classic tour route is recommended: enter from the south gate of the park, first walk along the main road to the Nine-Bend Bridge, stroll across the bridge to visit Huxin Island and enjoy the lake scenery (about 30 minutes); then go to Deyue Pavilion to visit the waterside pavilion building and surrounding landscapes (about 20 minutes); then go to Diecui Mountain, climb to the viewing pavilion to overlook the entire park (about 40 minutes); after going down the mountain, go to Zhiyuan Tower, climb the tower to overlook and visit the exhibition inside the tower (about 1 hour); finally, walk along the lakeside path to the leisure area near the north gate, where you can choose to take a boat ride or rest (about 1 hour). The total tour time is about 3-4 hours, suitable for a relaxed day tour.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Tianjin Metro Line 3 to Tiedong Road Station, get out from Exit B, and walk for about 10 minutes (about 800 meters) to reach the south gate of the park; or take Metro Line 6 to Beining Park Station, get out from Exit A, and walk for about 5 minutes (about 400 meters) to reach the west gate of the park.
- Bus: You can take bus lines such as No. 1, 27, 609, 619, 622, 641, 646, 818, 901, 903, 908, etc., get off at "Beining Park" Station, and walk into the park.
- Self-driving: There is a parking lot around the park, located near the south gate of Zhongshan North Road. The charging standard is 2 yuan per hour for small cars and 4 yuan per hour for large cars. The number of parking spaces is limited, so it is recommended to travel during off-peak hours.
Must-visit Attractions
- Zhiyuan Tower: A 9-story antique brick tower with a height of 74.24 meters, it is the landmark building of the park. Climbing the tower allows you to overlook the entire park and urban landscape, and the exhibits inside the tower showcase Tianjin's history and culture.
- Nine-Bend Bridge: A winding stone bridge with a total length of about 100 meters, connecting Huxin Island. It is the core area for viewing scenery and taking photos in the park, allowing you to enjoy the lake scenery up close.
- Deyue Pavilion: A 300-square-meter waterside pavilion by the lake, with an elegant architectural style. It is an excellent place to experience the charm of classical gardens and enjoy the moonlit scenery.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 3-4 hours for the tour. You can choose to visit in spring or autumn, when the climate is pleasant and the vegetation landscape in the park is beautiful.
- The park is relatively large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes and carry drinking water and sunshade supplies (in summer).
- If you want to climb the Zhiyuan Tower, it is recommended to avoid the peak hours from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on holidays to reduce waiting time in queues.
- The water area in the park is large. In summer, you can choose to take a boat ride to experience the garden landscape from a different perspective. The price of boat rides is about 40-120 yuan per hour for reference.
- Morning and evening are the times when there are many citizens' activities in the park. You can watch local life scenes such as morning exercises and opera singing, and feel the strong urban atmosphere.
Notes
- Spitting and littering are prohibited in the park. You must take good care of public facilities and vegetation and abide by the park's environmental hygiene regulations.
- When visiting near the lake or water, you must pay attention to safety, take good care of the elderly and children, and avoid playing in the water or climbing over railings.
- It is prohibited to bring pets, inflammable and explosive materials, controlled knives and other dangerous goods into the park, and consciously cooperate with the guidance of management personnel.
- When visiting in summer, pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling measures to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun; in winter, the road surface may be slippery, so pay attention to walking safety.
- Some areas in the park are equipped with monitoring and management personnel. When visiting, you must abide by public order and not arbitrarily damage cultural relics and historical sites and landscape facilities.