Chaoyang Park

Chaoyang Park is a big giant park on the east side of Beijing. It is a seriously massive park and while I was researching how to get there and what to do there, I couldn't find any information. Most of the tourist places are well documented and talked about all over the internet, but Chaoyang Park was not. I can't account for the lack of information on Beijing's largest park. There is not internet enthusiasm for this park at all. Granted, the park is not super wonderful, but it is well maintained, and on a clear day, it is a beautiful place to stroll around.

 Just outside of the west gate to the park is a place that sells enormous baozi. Baozi is a doughy bread filled with savory things. The two we ordered were one full of vegetables and one full of vermicelli noodles and dried shrimps. They were both good and very filling.

Most outdoorsy places in Beijing tend to have paddle boats for rent. We watched these little guys ride by under a bridge. The silence and calm of the park shadowed by construction cranes and endless apartment complexes is not a rarity.

Bikes, disappointingly, were not allowed inside the park. The largest park in Beijing knows how to run a business. Rather than let us ride through the perfectly paved paths of Chaoyang park, you must park your bike outside one of the entry gates, and then you will have the option to rent a peddle car. Ridiculous.

There were lots of things going on. People getting wedding and/or engagement photos taken. Lot of ping-pong and basketball games were in full swing. The park is perfect looking. In the photo below, I think a fountain may run every now and then, but wasn't on when we walked by.

On the way out of the park was this large knotted gun sculpture. Randomly promoting non-violence in remembrance of John Lennon.