Zhongshan Park in Beijing

Zhongshan Park in Beijing

Zhongshan Park in Beijing is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Zhongshan Park in Beijing is located south of the Forbidden City (the Palace Museum) in the city center, west of Tiananmen Square, sharing a wall with the Forbidden City. It was originally the Altar of Land and Grain during the Ming and Qing dynasties, built alongside the Imperial Ancestral Temple (now the Working People's Cultural Palace) following the Zhou dynasty ritual system of "ancestral temple on the left, altar of land and grain on the right." The park now covers an area of 230,000 square meters and is a commemorative classical altar and temple garden.

Located west of Tiananmen Square, the park spans an area of 22.5 hectares. It was originally the Xingguo Temple from the Liao and Jin dynasties, renamed Wanshou Xingguo Temple in the Yuan dynasty. In 1421 (the 19th year of the Yongle reign in the Ming dynasty), when Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di constructed the Beijing palaces, he converted it into the Altar of Land and Grain according to the "ancestral temple on the left, altar of land and grain on the right" system. This was where Ming and Qing emperors offered sacrifices to the God of Earth and the God of Grain. In 1914, it was turned into Central Park. After the passing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, his body was temporarily laid here. To commemorate him, it was renamed Zhongshan Park in 1928 by patriots including He Qigong, then mayor of Beiping Special Municipality and a subordinate of Feng Yuxiang.

Entering through the south gate, after passing the entrance hall and walking along the winding painted corridor, you’ll see a white marble memorial archway with blue-glazed tiles inscribed with “Defend Peace” (originally called the “Ketteler Archway” and later the “Justice Triumphs Archway”), written by Guo Moruo. Looking north, you’ll find a forest of ancient cypresses, most planted during the Ming dynasty. Seven of them stand tall and straight, requiring three or four people to encircle them. These uniquely shaped ancient cypresses are said to have been planted during the Liao dynasty, over a thousand years ago. There’s also a locust tree embracing a cypress, known as the “Locust-Cypress Embrace,” which remains lush and vibrant, a remarkable sight. West of here is the outer gate of the altar, guarded by a pair of majestic stone lions from the Northern Song dynasty, excavated and relocated in 1918 from the ruins of an ancient temple in Daming, Hebei.

Upon entering the altar gate, you’ll see a green tree-lined path surrounded by fruit trees. The main structure of the park, the Altar of Land and Grain, is located at the central axis. The altar is square-shaped, consisting of a three-tiered platform made of white marble. It is paved with five-colored soil from across the country: yellow in the center, cyan in the east, red in the south, white in the west, and black in the north, symbolizing the idea that “all under heaven belongs to the king” and representing the five elements—earth, wood, fire, metal, and water—which the ancients believed to be the foundation of all things. At the center of the altar platform was once a square stone pillar called the “Altar Lord Stone” or “Mountain and River Stone,” symbolizing “eternal stability of the nation.” The pillar was half-buried, then fully buried, and removed in 1950. The altar is surrounded by four-color glazed walls—blue on the east, red on the south, white on the west, and black on the north—with white marble Lingxing gates on each side, giving it a solemn and dignified appearance. The emperor regarded the “Altar of Land and Grain” as a symbol of the nation and believed himself to be divinely ordained. To pray for good harvests, he would come here for worship on the morning of the day of Wu within the second month of spring and autumn every year. Rituals were also held here for expeditions, battles, returns from war, presenting captives, and natural disasters such as drought or floods. To the north of the altar is the “Worship Hall,” also known as the Hall of Offering or Sacrificial Hall—a grand wooden structure with five bays in width and three in depth, featuring yellow-glazed tiles, a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, a white stone base, and no ceiling. The beams and brackets are exposed, painted with imperial-style colored patterns. It is the best-preserved Ming dynasty architecture. In 1925, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s coffin was placed here for public viewing and mourning. In 1928, it was renamed Zhongshan Hall by patriots including He Qigong. Behind the hall, on either side of the inner door, there were originally 72 silver-gilded iron halberds, hence the name “Halberd Gate.” All the halberds were looted by the Eight-Nation Alliance during their invasion of Beijing. Southwest of the altar are auxiliary structures such as the Divine Kitchen, Divine Storehouse, and Animal-Slaughtering Pavilion.

To the east of the Altar of Land and Grain lies a quiet area called the Evergreen Garden, featuring rockeries, flower stands, flower beds, and potted plants. Amidst the lush pines, cypresses, firs, and bamboos, you’ll find scenic spots such as the Pine-Cypress Shade Pavilion, Wine-Pouring Pavilion, and Laijin Yuxuan. To the west is the Tanghua Wu (Greenhouse for Early Blooming Flowers), a hothouse nurturing various precious flowers and plants, remaining vibrant and flowery all year round. There are also other structures like Yinghui Pavilion, Orchid Room, Waterside Pavilion, Siyi Pavilion, Chunming Pavilion, and Huaying Tower.

Additionally, the park has relocated some ancient buildings from other regions. West of the Tanghua Wu is the famous “Orchid Pavilion Stele Pavilion” and “Eight Pillars of the Orchid Pavilion,” originally part of the Forty Scenes of the Old Summer Palace. They were relocated here in 1917. The pavilion features a double-eave blue-glazed octagonal spire roof, with a central stone tablet engraved with the “Orchid Pavilion Gathering and Flowing Cups Diagram” and poems about the Orchid Pavilion by Emperor Qianlong. The eight stone pillars are inscribed with calligraphy by different dynasties’ masters imitating Wang Xizhi’s Orchid Pavilion Preface, making them precious stone carving relics. The Xili Pavilion, moved here in 1915 from the Qing dynasty’s Ministry of Rites, was originally built in the Honglu Temple and served as a place for newly arrived officials and foreign envoys to practice court etiquette.

At the back of the park is a grove of cypress trees. You can go boating on the Zhuizi River, or ice-skate in winter when it freezes. Across the river, the Forbidden City provides a picturesque reflection in the shimmering waters. In Vancouver, Canada, there is also a Zhongshan Park, reflecting the strong homesickness of the Chinese diaspora, overseas Chinese, and students through its landscapes, bridges, and corridors. Located in the eastern part of downtown Vancouver, adjacent to a major street and neighboring the Chinese Cultural Centre, it is said to be the first full-scale reproduction of a classical Chinese garden—modeled after Suzhou gardens—built outside of China. Construction began in March 1985, and the park officially opened on April 24, 1986. A team of 52 experts from Suzhou, China, led by architects Wang Zuxin and Feng Xiaolin, worked closely with Vancouver architects Wei Yazhu and set designer Deng Yun to complete the park in one year. Most of the building materials used in Zhongshan Park came from China, such as delicate glazed tiles, exquisitely carved wooden crafts, various lattice windows, rockery stones, and pebbles used for paths.

Zhongshan Park includes the four essential elements of a classical Chinese garden: pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls. The garden’s design reflects the philosophical ideas of Taoism: ruggedness versus flatness, brightness versus darkness, large versus small, strength versus softness. The park features a serene lake covered with water lilies, as well as babbling streams under small bridges. Among the plants, pine, bamboo, and plum are particularly prominent, symbolizing steadfastness, integrity, and friendship. The rocks are uneven and rugged, the paths and steps irregular. The long corridor carved with flowers, birds, insects, and grasses is straight and neat, while the floors of the waterside pavilions and terraces are square and orderly. More interestingly, despite its small size, the park gives visitors a sense of continuous scenic wonder, as if “another village appears after winding through willows and flowers.” On summer evenings, folk music concerts are often held at Huafeng Hall opposite the waterside pavilion. A piece like “Spring River Flower Moon Night,” set against the backdrop of water and mountain scenery, transports people to the past and across the ocean, leaving them enchanted.

At the end of 1993, a bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen was ceremoniously erected at the park’s entrance. The half-body bronze statue of Dr. Sun, along with its dark granite base, stands about three meters tall. With a solemn expression and profound gaze, it commands respect. The statue was sculpted by the renowned Chinese artist Professor Zeng Zhushao and donated by the China Overseas Exchange Association and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. On the unveiling day, representatives from the Canadian government, the Chinese Consul General in Vancouver, and the park management committee attended the ceremony and delivered speeches: Dr. Sun’s name lives on with the Chinese nation; the statue of Dr. Sun lives on with the Chinese community in Vancouver; and Dr. Sun’s ideals live on with global peace and progress.

Zhongshan Park is a microcosm of the Chinese homeland and a crystallization of Chinese culture. The statue of Dr. Sun embodies the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation.

Suggested Duration

Half a day

Transportation

To reach the south gate: Take bus routes 1, 5, 10, 22, 52, 90, 99, 205, 728, Special Line 1, or Special Line 2 and get off at Tiananmen West Station, then walk east for 2 minutes; or take Metro Line 1 and exit from Exit B at Tiananmen West Station, then walk east for 1 minute.

To reach the west gate: Take bus route 5 and get off at Xihua Gate Station, then walk south for 5 minutes along the east side of the road. Self-driving visitors can drive to the park’s west gate on Nan Chang Street, where there is a paid parking lot (available until 18:00, with about 30 parking spaces).

Admission Fee

Regular days: 3 RMB per person; half-price (1.5 RMB) for students, seniors, etc.; free for military personnel, people with disabilities, and seniors over 65; combined ticket for Tanghua Wu and Huifang Garden: 5 RMB per person.

During the Spring Flowers & Tulip Exhibition (April 10–May 10 annually): 10 RMB per person; half-price (5 RMB); the ticket allows entry to Tanghua Wu and Huifang Garden.

Opening Hours

April–May: Ticket sales 6:00–20:00, park closes 21:00

June–August: Ticket sales 6:00–21:00, park closes 22:00

September–October: Ticket sales 6:00–20:00, park closes 21:00

November–March: Ticket sales 6:30–19:00, park closes 20:00

Tanghua Wu and Huifang Garden opening hours: 9:00–17:00

Location

No. 4 Zhonghua Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing