Beihai Park

To the northwest of Forbidden City is Beihai Park in downtown Beijing, China. Being the imperial garden for Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (916- 1911), it is among the oldest and latest gardens which are well preserved. Literally, Beihai means North Sea and there are corresponding Zhongnanhai (Central and Southern sea) which is the residences for China's paramount leaders.

Covering an area of 69 hectares, the park contains numerous historically important structures, palaces and temples and half of it is covered by a lake. Many scenic spots are located along the east and north shores of the lake and the structures and scenes in the park are described as masterpieces of gardening technique of traditional Chinese garden art. At the park’s center is an island called Qionghua Island. The southern end of the park is called Circular City.

Visiting Guide

Entering the park from south gate, visitors will find the Circular City. Qionghua Island is north of Circular City and the two are connected by a bridge called Yongan Bridge. After enjoying the attractions on the island, visitors can continue to visit the landscapes on east shore and then north shore.

Circular City

Located at the southern end of the park, Circular City is a relatively independent small garden surrounded by walls. Visitors can climb to the top from the east and west steps.

Chengguang Hall is the main building in Circular City. It houses a 1.5-meter-high and 2.5-ton-heavy statue of Buddha carved with a whole piece of white jade. It is said the statue was collected alms from Burma by a Buddhist monk who favored it to the Empress Dowager Cixi. In front of the hall stands a huge jade urn carved from a whole piece of black jade. With a weight of 3500 kilograms, it is the largest ancient jade object in China. The trees around the hall have a history of hundreds of years and the emperors even conferred titles to them.

Qionghua Island

Passing the Yongan Bridge on north Circular City, visitors will find themselves at the Qionghua Island, the core of the whole park. White Pagoda on the island is considered as the symbol of the park and buildings on the island are built around the mountains.

The western slope of the island is a group of buildings and the two-storey Yuegu Tower resembling the semilune shape is an imperial library. The library’s walls are inlayed with steles carrying inscriptions of over 134 calligraphists since Wei and Jin Dynasty (220-581), which are considered as treasures by the Emperor Qianlong (a great one in Qing Dynasty).

The pavilions, temples and towers at the northern mountain foot imitated the style of Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang. A 300-meter-long corridor connects the tower and pavilion. The eastern slope of the mountain does not have too many buildings but it is quiet and shaded by trees and odd rocks. It was one of the Eight Grand Sights during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) in Beijing. A stone tablet with the inscription of "Spring Shade Over Qionghua Island" stands at here.

White Pagoda

As the symbol of Beihai Park, White Pagoda is a 40-meter-high white stupa built in 1651 at the top of mountain. The white surface of the pagoda is decorated with engravings of Sun, moon and flame. Buddhist Scriptures, monk's mantles and alms bowl are placed inside the tower. Looking down from the pagoda top, the roofs of the White Pagoda Temple’s buildings are extremely beautiful. Also, it offers a bird view of the whole park.

East Shore

Most of the structures along the east shore were constructed in Qianlong Era (1736-1796) of Qing Dynasty. Huafang Studio, the former palace of the emperor, is the main scenic spot. It is said the open area in front of the door is the place for the emperors to practice arrow. The pond within the studio encircled by corridors is very amazing. The Chinese Scholar tree east of the courtyard was planted during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and it is still full of vitality.

North Shore

Jingxin (quiet heart) Studio, the most famous independent garden within Beihai Park, was the place where the royal members used to rest or study. Inside of the garden are artistically arranged with palaces, halls, pavilions, towers, corridors and artificial hills as well as numerous odd-shaped porous rocks and stones.

Nine Dragon Screen is to the northwest of the Jingxin Studio. Made in 1756, it is the only screen with nine huge dragons on both sides among the most famous three Nine-Dragon Screens in China. Standing on a white marble platform, the screen is made with 424 pieces of colorful glazed bricks. It is 25.86 meters long, 6.65 meters high and 1.42 meters thick.

To the south of the Nine Dragon Screen is the Five-Dragon Pavilions which are connected with each other. First built in 1602, the pavilions with spires and pointed upswept eaves many are decorated with exquisite carvings and paintings on the girders and pillars. From here, visitors can get a perfect photography of the Qionghua Island and White Pagoda.

Besides, the lapillus Iron Shadow Screen Wall dating back to Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) and Xiaoxitian (Land of Extreme Happiness), the largest palatial hall in the style of a square pavilion in China with statues of Bodhisattva and 800 Arhats are also worth to visit.