MANY people have turned their eyes to look within our city for places to have a day tour or a few hours outdoors, as the inconvenience of traveling during the pandemic has deterred their willingness to travel afar.

Not far from Lianhua Hill Park in downtown Futian, Bijia Mountain Park is another “green gem” hidden in the city’s center. This year, a nature education trail and other facilities have been added to the park, making it a good destination to take your children for fun.

Located in the north of the city center, Bijia Mountain got its Chinese name from the three peaks standing side by side resembling a penholder. Covered in luscious greenery with lakes and ponds scattered around, the park is a paradise for hikers and nature photographers, with the Futian River winding through it. There are several routes to take to explore the park.

Walking along the aerial corridor that links Lianhua Hill and Bijia Mountain, people can turn left at the first intersection and hike along the Futian River. Birds fly among the trees that shroud the riverbank, and fishes swim in the clear river aside. Sitting under the trees, one can forget about all the troubles of life and enjoy some tranquil alone time.

Across the Fulian Bridge is the park, where people’s first stop can be the Shuangyan (meaning “Double Inkstone”) Lake. At the center is a boat-shaped “sculpture” made of water plants; ducks are often seen foraging on the lake and overhead hover the sounds of the chirping birds.

With more than 400 plant species covering 90% of the total area of the park, walking in it almost feels like walking in a forest. Following a boulevard lined by big trees such as pines, camphor and birch trees, visitors will arrive at the Bijia Mountain Exhibition Hall, where art exhibitions of various forms are held regularly.

Enter the park through its east gate, walk 400 meters along the boulevard and then turn right into the first deviating small path, people will see the nature education trail, along which eight plaques in the shape of cute animals are inscribed with detailed texts and pictures describing the plants that grow in the park. A nature education center at the park regularly organizes bird-watching events, nature handicraft workshops and pop science lectures for the public, the information about which is available on the park’s WeChat official account.

The nature education trail is connected with the Anlin Path, where a large stand of lemon eucalyptus trees refreshes visitors with a unique mesmerizing aroma. At the end of the Anlin Path is a 1,000-square-meter botanic garden for children to explore. Some 90 plants are grown here, each with an interesting name and its own conspicuous trait.

Near the garden is a playground equipped with seesaws, wooden horses and sandpitches, where children can have fun.

Entering the east gate, people can also choose to hike along the Shuxiang Path until they come to the top of Biguan Peak, which rises 178 meters above sea level. Here people can enjoy from afar the skylines of downtown Futian District and neighboring Hong Kong, as well as the ocean fronts of Shekou and Shenzhen Bay. It takes 40-50 minutes to hike from the east gate to the top.

(Li Dan)

Metro: Yinhu Station on Lines 6 and 9, Huangmugang Station on Line 7