Dating back to over 1,000 years, Beihai-Park is located in the Xicheng District and has been built up through five dynasties, the Qing, the Ming, the Yuan, the Jin and the Liao. Located to the northwest of Beijing’s Forbidden City, it ranks among the country’s largest gardens and consists of numerous structures of historical significance including temples and palaces. Overall, the park is made up of four scenic areas: the northern bank area, the eastern bank area, Circular City, and Qionghua Islet (Jade Flower Islet).
At the centre of the park is the Qionghua Islet which features pavilions, rockeries and halls. The largest building complex is the Yong’an Temple which consists of several halls, a drum tower and a bell tower. In the past the temple was a place of worship for emperors. The park’s main symbol, a white pagoda is found on the top of the islet.
This Lamaist pagoda is also a special place of interest within the park. The pavilions and halls where Qing Dynasty emperors used to hold business discussions and rest can be found to the west of the temple. Those interested in enjoying some panoramic vistas should head over to the two-storey corridor found to the north of the islet.
The Circular City is located in the southeast of the park, encircled by a wall. It is an exquisite garden where the Chengguang Hall featuring green glazed eaves and yellow glazed tiles can be found. It is said that Ming Dynasty emperors used to arrive here to watch fireworks. However, during the Qing Dynasty the hall was transformed into a Buddhist chapel. Its main hall houses a Buddha statue carved out of a piece of white jade. The Nine-Dragon Wall and the Five-Dragon Pavilions on the northern bank area are ‘must-see’ sites for visitors.
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Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.