Beijing is known as the most runner friendly city. Actually, sportsmen friendly city. Mainly due to high traffic and pollution. Despite that, it hosted 2008 summer olympic games, where several competitors struggled with polluted air. Those were also the olympic games that were one of the most expensive ones (surpassed only by Sochi in 2014), the estimated cost was around 40 billion USD. And they built. A lot. As a byproduct, an olympic forest parc was also built, with plenty of lakes, trees and running paths.

Its quite straightforward to get to the parc, though its not close to other popular spots in Beijing. The best way to get there is metro, line 8 (green) which run underneath the olympic venue. To reach different Olympic building (from stadium to Olympic forest parc) there are three different metro stops (Olympic Sports Center, Olympic Green in South Gate of Forest Park, distances among the metro stations are quite long). For the enthusiast runner, the best one is the last one, South Gate of Forest Park, where exit D leads you directly into the parc.

There is no entry fee for the parc (which is a rarity for Beijing), and parc is open between 9am and 8pm – though i was there during the winter – in the summer could be open longer as the light is longer). Parc is divided by 5th ring road into two pars. Southern part is more crowded, and central part there is a lake.

For the runner conditions are great, including a great tartan-like surface to run on . Three distances are marked:
– 10km; grand circle, includes the run in both parts of the park – there are three quite significant ascents, twice over the highway and one some 2km before the end. Upper (north part) has long straights and very little shade and the road is wider. It is also much less crowded than lower (south part).
– 5km; includes just lower part the parc. Nicely routed, never gets boring. A bit more twisty than upper part. Includes one hill around 2km before the end. More shade than in the upper part.
– 3km; shortened circle of the lower part of the parc.

You just need to follow the markings. Each kilometer there are distance markings. The route is not boring and there are plenty of bridges and lakes. Twists, uphills, long straights. Everything. There is even a swamp, however it was dried out when i was there due to lack of rain.

In general, it is forbidden to cycle, though one can use electric minibus or small electric car. Outside the lower part of the parc is a 6-7km circle where a cyclist could train in relative safety.

My plan was to run 10km. Route goes through both pars of the parc – south and north. Of course i missed the crossroad and unexpectedly ran 5km loop. It wasn’t boring and i was maybe looking too much around 🙂 Despite the weekday, there were plenty of people on the southern loop – both runners and walkers. I just cannot imagine how crowded this parc could get during midday weekend day.

Starting second lap, i glanced a bit more thoroughly the map 🙂 And found a crossroad over the 5th ring to run a complete 10km lap. Northern part was a bit more boring, there is less of people and straights are long and no uphills. Great for speed work 😉

As I was not really tired after running around 16-17km around the parc, i decided to have a look of other Olympic games venues. Everything is quite monumental. Building are large, avenue is wide, though everything looks a bit empty (and there are plenty of people around). I walked all the way (another 2-3km) to Birds nest stadium and Watercube swimming pool. It is possible to see both, of course, for an entry fee. The signs of summer Olympic games remain, though there are currently new signs – Beijing is a candidate of winter Olympic games in 2022. Honestly, i don’t really think this venue goes together with a spirit of winter games. Just like Sochi didn’t go. But there is another player in this game. Money. And Chinese have it plenty, so i don’t have doubt that Beijing will be first city to host both summer and winter Olympic games.

To sum it up. Location of the parc and venues is not great for a casual visitor to Beijing. With a metro it takes at least 30-40 minutes from the center. There is not really much to see, though… i’m glad to have been here. As for running, forest parc is great. Just not for that short half or one hour run. Maybe for a long-run. There are also some “serious” hills outside the main running paths, so… great for training.