A Hidden Gem! Spot the Netherlands at Beijing International Flower Port

On a rainy day, I slipped into a garden bursting with tulips, their eyes like limpid pools drinking in the summer light.

A few days ago I discovered this hidden gem garden at Beijing International Flower Port in Shunyi. Even though many friends had been before, it was my first visit. The Tulip Festival is on now, and the garden is filled with breathtaking tulips—like stepping into a Monet painting from 19th-century Europe! It has such a Dutch feel—perfect for photo ops!

[Photo Route]:

I suggest following this route~

Butterfly World – Hundred Flowers Field – Cherry Blossom Avenue – Ruiyun Lawn – Star Seal Square – Earth Flower Sea – Twelve Zodiac Tents

Before coming, I checked lots of guides; some said there were few flowers, others said they were abundant! I guessed the previous person went before the flowers fully bloomed. Luckily, when I came, about half were open, already quite dense, and staff were still planting more in empty spaces, so next time you'll see even more blooms.

The exhibition area is nearly 112,000 square meters, but it's not too tiring to walk because tulips line every path! We just wandered and snapped photos whenever we saw flowers we loved.

You can see 73 varieties of tulips and 8 other flower types in the park. Even though every flower bed made us exclaim 'how beautiful!'—in the "Dutch Flair" themed area, flowers are arranged in ribbons, color blocks, or floral patterns; the "Romantic Paris" section highlights French romance and freedom. Different colors planted together create the feeling of a sea of flowers! It suddenly reminded me of Jay Chou's "Sea of Flowers" haha…

There are also "Roman Holiday" and "Monet's Garden" themes, with different colors blending to create unique atmospheres. Immersive garden tours bring full-on spring happiness~

In every flower sea, there's a slightly wider gap or a patch of empty lawn allowing visitors to step in and take photos without trampling the flowers. Such a thoughtful and clever detail—everyone can get up close to spring's beauty and capture gorgeous shots.

Along Huanhua Lake, when the mist rises, it feels like a blend of fog, rain, and wind—fresh and subtly enchanting, as if walking in a fairyland.

In the distance, two large windmills stand among the flowers, welcoming visitors from all directions, creating a European vibe. The sweeping fields of tulips make every visitor's heart flutter.

It also resembles a scene from Hayao Miyazaki's "My Neighbor Totoro." A breeze passed, and I couldn't help lying down on the grass to gaze at the sky. The whole world quieted down. It's probably been a while since I saw things from a different angle; it felt like the troubles in my heart were blown away by the wind. The spring breeze brushed my face, bringing back memories of childhood innocence.

Where there are flowers, there are butterflies. Inside the park there's a Butterfly World. The 7,000-square-meter exhibition hall houses world-class butterfly specimens and a butterfly house. As soon as I entered, I saw a specimen of the Brazilian blue morpho, and I was stunned! I remember when I was in second grade, there was a butterfly exhibition at school—the first time I saw such a gorgeous butterfly, with wings like a fairy, shimmering dreamy blue light. Back then, butterfly specimens were expensive; I only let my dad buy a few photos to paste on my wall. Time flies, and now I'm again marveling at life's beauty, envying today's kids haha.

There's another room, an indoor forest environment with butterflies flying everywhere, often landing on your bag, clothes, even your eyelids haha~ Photos here have that Instagram-worthy feel. You can also witness the process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly!

Kids who've been exploring the park for a while can take a break at Shiyue Bookstore to read picture books, or head to the Cute Pet Park to feed lambs. I witnessed a fun moment: while a little one was feeding a lamb, a peacock displayed its feathers! You have to say, kids today are luckier than we were—I hope they can immerse themselves in nature and feel the world's beauty.

Big kids too, haha. Blooming season is here, so grab your friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and go!

Date: Opens April 3, 2021, runs through May

Location: Beijing International Flower Port

Tickets: Adult ticket 80 RMB, discount ticket 60 RMB