 Beihai Park is one of the oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens
situated in the heart of the city near the Forbidden City and
Jingshan Park. The garden covers an area of 69 hectares with a lake
extending to over half of the grounds. Some of the park's scenic
attractions include the White Pagoda, Hao Pu Creek, Jingxin Studio,
Nine Dragon Screen, Five Dragon Pavilion and Circular City.
The Beihai area has been the site of an imperial pleasure garden
since the Liao Dynasty, and different structures and layouts were
built there in successive eras. It was Emperor Qianlong of the Qing
Dynasty who undertook its most dramatic renovation. It was during
his reign that Beihai Park came to its modern scale and grandeur. In
1925, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the park was opened to the
public.
The park is comprised of four distinct scenic areas including
Qionghua Islet (Jade Flower Islet), Circular City, the eastern bank
area and the northern bank area. Qionghua Islet is located in the
middle of the lake and considered the central axis of the park. The
islet is densely populated with halls, rockeries, pavilions, the
imposing White Pagoda and Yong'an Temple. White Pagoda, the symbol
of the park towers over the Qionghua Islet. The Lamaist Pagoda,
which stands 35.9m high, was built in 1651. Buddhist lections, alms
bowl and sarira, and remains of Buddha (Sakyamuni) are laid in the
Pagoda. Directly to the west are halls and pavilion where the
emperors of the Qing Dynasty would come and rest, discuss official
business and relax. Another impressive structure is Yong'an Temple
(Temple of Everlasting Peace). It is the largest building complex
comprised of several halls, a bell tower and a drum tower. North of
the islet, there is a two-storey corridor that offers an extensive
view of the area. Other major sites include Zhenjue Hall, the Bell
and Drum Towers and Stone Tables of Qiongdao Chunyin, which was
inscribed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qin Dynasty.
The southeastern part of the park is comprised of the Circular City
and Chengguang Hall. A wall surrounds the city, where a beautiful
garden lies inside. During the Ming Dynasty, Emperors would come and
watch firework displays at Chengguang Hall. Then during the Qing
Dynasty, it was converted into a Buddhist chapel. Today, a statue of
white jade Buddha is still enshrined in the main hall. Directly
across Chengguang Hall is a pavilion on which stands a magnificent
carved nephrite bowl that used to belong to Kublai Khan - the only
relic of the Yuan Dynasty structures that once stood there.
Beihai was opened to the public in 1925 and in 1961 it was one of
the first important cultural sites placed under protection by the
State Council. The park occupies an area of 69 hectares including a
39-hectare lake. In the garden, pavilions and towers nestle amid the
beautiful scenery of lakes and hills,grass and trees. Carrying on
the traditions of garden landscaping of ancient China Beihai is a
gem of garden art
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