Beishan or Northern Hill Park (Beishan gongyuan) is a quiet and large park, situated rather bizarrely in the west of Jilin. The park has many interesting features, and is considered an optimum venue for its summer lotus flowers and winter rimy pines. Originally the park was established in 1927, but has undergone renovations and expansion many times since then.

The park is reminiscent of many of the similar areas in Suzhou and Hangzhou, with pavilions, bridges, corridors and terraces well designed and scattered about among the hills. Three small linked lakes run along the foot of the main mountain (Taoyuan Mountain in the west of the park), and it is possible to take a boat out here to the islet and pavilion in the center of the lake. In the northwestern corner of the park is a Mausoleum for Martyrs who died during the early Communist years, and the memorial hall in here has epigraphs by Chairman Mao and other high profile cadres.

The park is also famed for it many holy features. The religious and cultural atmosphere here is in obvious existence, with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian temples and halls all around. Temples here include the Three Emperor Temple (San Wang Miao), the King of Medicine Temple (Yaowang miao), the Sky King Temple (Tianwang miao) and, probably the best of the lot, the Guan Emperor Temple (Guan di si). If you are in town in March, the annual temple fairs on April 18 and 28 of the traditional Chinese calendar have Dongbei (northeastern China) folk dancing, called Yange, and many local traditions.

Next to the park is also the local Kung Fu School, by the entrance. Those into this sort of thing can have lessons, although the thick Dongbei accents can make proper study a trial. Three month courses can be signed up for.

How to get there: Take bus No.7 (fare: RMB1) from the railway station to the terminus, which is just in front of the entrance to the park.
Opening hours: 6:30am to 5:30pm
Costs: RMB5 for a general entrance fee.

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