Yulan Magnolia Flower Viewing Day Tour

Magnolia is an ancient genus. The Yulan magnolia, is native to central and eastern China. It has been very often cultivated in the buddhist temple gardens in China since 600 AD. It was also planted in the courtyards or the open fields within the Emperor's palaces. Its flowers are regarded as a symbol of purity. Its flowers blossom from early to late spring. The 10–16 cm white flowers are beautiful and thick with a citrus-lemon fragrance.

Pick up from your midtown hotel around 9:00am and head to Dajue Temple. Dajue Temple is a one-thousand-year-old temple in the western suburbs of Beijing, a tranquil and ancient place. Dajue Temple (the Temple of Enlightenment) was first built in 1068 during the Liao Dynasty. The temple was established on the mountain slope. Most of the buildings were rebuilt or renovated during the Qing Dynasty. The halls are big, simple and austere. Their layout is compact but betrays impressive depth and breadth. The magnolia flowers in Dajue Temple are large, bright, elegant and fragrant. Here the yulan flowers last much longer than those inside the city, until the end of April. These eye-catching Yulan Magnolia flowers surpass other magnolias in Beijing, attracting a great number of tourists each spring.

Then follow the western suburban road to Tanzhe Temple. It was first established in Jin Dynasty (365-420), so in Beijing there is a common saying that "First there was the Tanzhe Temple, then came Beijing". The temple is built on a hillside and consists of various pavilions, prayer halls, courtyards and a group of pagodas dating from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. There are many purple magnolia, yellow magnolia and Trees for luck in the temple. But the Yulan magnolia flowers blosson later than the flowers in the downtown city since the temperature is relatively lower.

After Chinese lunch, travel back along the same road to Beijing International Sculpture Park. It is a new place to see yulan flower. It has over 5,000 yulan trees planted. Besides the most common white and red yulan flowers, there are yellow and purple yulan flowers to view at the park. Finally drive along the street of the south side of Zhongnanhai, just west of the Tiananmen Square on the Changan Avenue. The beautiful flowers give a gentle touch to the solemn and official surroundings. After the whole day tour, return to your downtown hotel.

Pricing Person ( Cost: in US$ per person )