Tongzhou's forest park, Beijing Library, Grand Canal Museum are must-see as seasons change

A tour to the forest park and landmark cultural venues during the transition from autumn to winter is a can't-miss experience in Tongzhou, the administrative center of Beijing on the city's eastern outskirts.

A glance at the picturesque Central Green Forest Park in Tongzhou district, Beijing. (Photo: China Daily)

Central Green Forest Park offers a stunning blend of autumn's various colors and winter's serene beauty. The park's 1.7-kilometer promenade is lined with nearly 600 Freeman maple trees, creating a tapestry of amber, scarlet, and umber. As the season shifts, Chinese red pines stand prominently amid broad grasslands, offering a layered landscape. As you walk, the rustling leaves underfoot and the crisp air capture the essence of late autumn.

Just a five-minute walk away is the Beijing Library, known as the "Forest Book Garden". This cultural landmark features 144 pillars resembling ginkgo trunks. The overlapping leaf-shaped panels form a vast canopy, allowing soft daylight to filter through. The ginkgo roof incorporates photovoltaic panels for clean energy, and hidden maintenance passages ensure structural integrity. Inside, terraced reading platforms create valleys of books with large windows offering views of the park. The library's standout feature is its automated book retrieval system, which manages 8 million volumes, drastically reducing wait times.

Nearby, the Beijing Grand Canal Museum is one of the area's most popular cultural venues. Its exhibits chronicle the Grand Canal's 2,500-year history, from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to its expansion under the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. More than a thousand artifacts are found here that highlight the canal's role in shaping cities, trade, and cultural exchange. The Grand Canal was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.