Beihai Park and Round City

Beihai and Round City

Beihai and Round City are designated as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Beihai and Round City are located in the center of Beijing, northwest of the Forbidden City.

Beihai is China’s oldest surviving imperial garden, originally built during the Liao Dynasty and boasting a history of over 800 years. It is now known as Beihai Park in Beijing. During the Liao Dynasty, a Yao? Palace was constructed here to emulate the legendary Penglai Fairyland. By the Jin Dynasty, the lake was expanded and rockeries added to create the Guanghan Palace. The Yuan Dynasty saw three expansions of Qionghua Island, with the island as the center for constructing the imperial capital and palace gardens. Further expansions were carried out during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, resulting in its current scale.

Beihai is situated about 500 meters northwest of the Forbidden City and Jingshan Mountain, covering an area of approximately 700,000 square meters, with vast water bodies that make up more than half of the park. In the Ming Dynasty, Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai were collectively referred to as the "Three Seas," also known as Taiye Pool, and were listed as imperial forbidden gardens. In the early years of the Republic of China, Zhonghai and Nanhai were merged into one garden called Zhongnanhai, while Beihai became a separate park. Qiong Island lies to the south of the lake and serves as the focal point of the entire park. Known as Qionghua Island during the Jin Dynasty, it was renamed Wanshou Mountain in the Yuan Dynasty, and later acquired the name White Pagoda Hill after the construction of a white pagoda atop the hill. On the eastern shore of the lake are attractions such as Haopu Pond, Painted Boat Studio, and Silkworm Altar. Along the northern shore from east to west are Jingxin Studio, Heavenly King Hall, Nine-Dragon Screen, Kuai Xue Hall, Chanfu Temple, Ten-Thousand Buddha Tower, and the World of Ultimate Bliss (formerly known as Little Western Heaven).

Round City is located to the west of the South Gate of Beihai Park, on the north side of the eastern bridgehead of the Golden Turtle Jade Bridge, which connects Beihai and Zhonghai. Round City is both part of Beihai Park and an independently styled small garden with a unique character. Together with Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai, it forms one of the most beautiful scenic areas within Beijing. Originally a small island in Taiye Pool, Round City saw the construction of palaces by Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Yong, between 1163 and 1179 AD. These palaces faced the Guanghan Hall on Qionghua Island in Beihai from afar, forming part of the imperial garden. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, additional structures such as the Chengguang Hall, Jade Vase Pavilion, Ancient Melody Hall, Jingji Hall, Yuqing Studio, and Mirror Ripple Pavilion were built. Walls were erected around the island, along with battlements, laying the initial foundation for Round City’s current layout.

In March 1961, Beihai and Round City were announced by the State Council as part of the first group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Protected Historical Sites in Beijing

· First Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level