Beijing's Popular Tourist Attraction Imports 199 Pine Trees, But Tourists Don't Buy In; Ticket Prices Too High

In Beijing, you will never be bored on weekends. There are so many places to spend your time: those who like history can delve into the old mansions of princes in the hutongs, and visit countless temples and palaces; those who love to take photos can visit 798 Art Zone again and again; and there are countless restaurants where you can gain 10 pounds after eating.

However, this emerging internet celebrity hotspot in Beijing is quite peculiar: despite being hailed as having Beijing's most beautiful art museum, it doesn't attract many tourists; the decoration here is meticulously crafted, with stunning architectural designs that make people gasp; the art museum even imported 199 pine trees from Shandong, but her friends always dodge making appointments: it's simply too far, requiring multiple changes in transportation.

Going to the art museum once costs 180 yuan, which is significantly higher than other attractions in Beijing. Looking at the reviews, the complaints are numerous: the exhibits are not as good as art museums, and it’s better to just look at the buildings! So, is this really the kind of internet celebrity hotspot that people are complaining about? On a weekend, I went to Shunyi to visit the museum.

The museum's beauty of emptiness and 199 pine trees

When visiting Songma Art Museum, it was a winter. The low-arched entrance resembles a private villa district, not an art museum. Entering, you turn left into the white house. The architectural lines are simple and clean, with glass decorations standing on a green field, giving a sense of tranquility. Songma Art Museum was originally a racetrack, but walking on it now feels like stepping into a landscape painting. White is the most simple, yet it easily inspires infinite imagination.

Unlike Songma Art Museum, I had previously visited Songzhuang Art Park in the suburbs, which was also white. However, it lacked the spirituality of Songma Art Museum. Perhaps it was the 199 pine trees, which added a refreshing charm to the museum: all the pine trees were transported from Shandong, with their postures stretched and different shapes, with branches like dragons and leaves like phoenixes; when I arrived, it had just snowed, and snowflakes covered the grass, as if a master painter had brushed them, outlining winding lines.

“Poetry uses landscapes as its realm, and landscapes use poetry as their realm.” Just like the white house, Songma Art Museum has become a celebrity hotspot because it offers more Chinese traditional beauty. The last time I felt moved by architecture was in Anhui Hongcun, where white and blue-gray tile houses stood among mountains and rivers, just as quietly. The black horse head walls of five or three layers are like a painter’s fluctuating brushstrokes, outlining a quiet and harmonious feeling on the screen. The good use of white is like the blank space on rice paper, not in color, but with its own charm.

Count airplanes

The museum’s exhibition halls are divided into upper and lower floors, with 12 halls and diverse exhibits. Compared to the lively exhibits at the China Art Museum and 798, this museum’s style is quite niche. If not accompanied by a guide, it's difficult to understand the artists' leaps of thought. It's no wonder some people complain that the exhibits are not as good as art museums.

There are many related peripherals in the museum’s cultural creation area, and so what are all those airplane selfies? Because Songma Art Museum is close to Beijing Capital Airport, it takes about a few minutes to fly an airplane over your head. If you wait a few more times, it’s not difficult to take a selfie with the museum and the airplane.

Detailed address: Beijing Shunyi District Tianzichuan Town, Glas Road

Transportation: Take subway Line 3 Yuan Bridge and transfer to bus 935 at Wugou Bridge

Ticket price: Adult ticket 180 yuan

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00 (Monday closed)

Do you want to go to this internet celebrity hotspot in Beijing?