Destination Introduction: The Imperial Archives City, also known as the "Tablet and Memorial Repository," served as the royal archives. It is located on the east side of Nanri Street in Nanchizi Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, close to the eastern side of the Forbidden City. Originally built in the 13th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1534), it underwent renovations in the 2nd year of the Longqing reign (1568) and the 11th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1806). It is the best-preserved…
Located in the northwest of Dongcheng District, it stretches east from Dongsi Beidajie, west to Jiaodaokou Nanjie, connects south to Zhongjianzixiang, and north to Beijianzixiang and Wen Chengxiang Hutong. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office. During the Ming Dynasty, Fuxue Hutong was part of Jiaozhong Fang and was named Fuxue Hutong because the Shuntian Prefecture School was located here. The predecessor of the Shuntian Prefecture School was...
Destination Introduction The former site of Tianqing Temple is located on Dongxiaoshi Street in Chongwen District. It neighbors the South Medicine King Temple to the east and was originally the Shuitai Temple from the Liao Dynasty. When it was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Zhiyuan era (1272) during the Yuan Dynasty, an abandoned bell was discovered with the characters “天庆” (Tianqing) inscribed on it. After verification, it was found to be the era name of the Liao Dynasty, so the temple was subsequently named Tianqing. A stone plaque inscribed with “天庆禅林” (Tianqing Chanlin) is embedded in the temple wall, which was engraved by later generations. The former site has been converted into the Temple of Heaven Youth Center.
The Ancestral Temple is located on the northeast side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It served as the imperial ancestral temple where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped their forebears. Constructed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420), the temple covers an area of over 200 acres and was built in accordance with the traditional Chinese ritual system of “revering Heaven and honoring ancestors.” The temple complex has a rectangular layout, stretching 475 meters from north to south and 294 meters from east to west.
Prince Fu’s Mansion is located at No. 137, Chaoyangmennei Street, Dongcheng District. It was originally the new residence of Prince Yi. After the death of Yinzhi, the thirteenth son of Emperor Kangxi and Prince Yi, his original mansion was converted into Xianliang Temple, and the emperor granted this site to his second successor, Hongxiao. To distinguish it from the old residence, it was commonly referred to as the new residence of Prince Yi. When it passed to the sixth-generation prince, Zaiyuan...
Zhihua Temple, located on the north side of the eastern entrance to Lumicang Lane in Dongcheng District, Beijing, was built in the eighth year of the Zhengtong era (1443) during the early Ming Dynasty by Wang Zhen, an eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, following the Tang and Song “Seven-Hall Monastery” layout. Initially serving as a family temple, it was later granted the name “Bao’en Zhihua Temple.” Following the Tumu Crisis, Wang Zhen’s entire clan was executed. After Emperor Yingzong’s restoration to power, in the first year of the Tian Shun era (1457),
Destination Introduction The Mingrui Mansion refers to the courtyard house at No. 11 Neiwubu Street, a large residence that faces south with its back to the north. It is accessed through the eastern main gate. The Mingrui Mansion was the residence of Mingrui, a first-class Duke of Chengjia Yiyong during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. Mingrui, courtesy name Yunting, was a member of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner. In the 24th year of Qianlong’s reign (1759), he contributed to the suppression of the rebellion in the Ili region.
Xuanren Temple is located at No. 2 and No. 4 Beichizi Street. It was built in the sixth year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1728) by imperial decree to enshrine the God of Wind, commonly known as the Wind God Temple. It was renovated in the ninth year of the Jiaqing reign (1804). Its design was modeled after the Shishi Palace in Zhongnanhai (which enshrines the God of Rain), and it was bestowed the title “Manifest Blessing in Season,” while the temple itself was named “Xuanren.” The temple houses an imperial plaque inscribed with “Harmonious Prosperity” written by Emperor Yongzheng.
Destination Introduction: Ninghe Temple is located at No. 46 Beichizi Street, Dongcheng District. It is commonly known as the Cloud God Temple. Built in the 8th year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1730) by imperial decree, it was dedicated to the worship of the cloud deity. The temple’s main gate faces west, with a glazed brick screen wall standing in front of it. The halls all face south. Major structures include the bell and drum towers and a four-tiered main hall. The temple now serves as a school; the screen wall and bell and drum towers have been demolished.
Destination Introduction The former residence of Wanrong is an old courtyard house located at No. 35 and 37, Mao’er Hutong, south of the Drum Tower, Dongcheng District. It was originally the pre-marriage residence of Wanrong, the last Empress of China during the Qing Dynasty and wife of Emperor Puyi, and was built by her great-grandfather, Guoluo Changshun. Originally, it was just a fairly ordinary residence. After Wanrong was conferred the title of “Empress,” her father was granted the title of Third-Class Duke of Favour, and the residence was elevated to the status of a Duke’s mansion. As the “residence of the Empress,” it was further expanded. The west section consists of a four-courtyard complex, while the east section has a three-courtyard layout. The rear courtyard features rockeries and a pond, with a family ancestral hall on the east side. The main room in the west section was where Wanrong lived. It is a key cultural relic protected at the municipal level in Beijing.
Destination Introduction: Prince Chun’s Mansion is located on the west side of Zhengyi Road in Dongjiaominxiang. Prince Chun, named Yun? (note: original character not provided), was the seventh son of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. In the 48th year of Kangxi’s reign (1709), he was granted the title of Prince Chunjun, and was further promoted to Prince Chun in the first year of Yongzheng’s reign (1723). This mansion was built after he was granted the title of prince. In the 10th year of Xianfeng’s reign (1860), the mansion...
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.
The Nancheng Warehouse Cultural & Leisure Street Scenic Area is located at No. 22 Dongsi Shitiao, Beijing. It was a granary used to store imperial grain and official rice during the Ming and Qing dynasties, belonging to the royal government storage system. Nancheng Warehouse was built on the foundation of the Yuan Dynasty’s Beitaicang (Northern Grand Granary) and has a history of over 600 years. It is the only remaining royal granary in China and also the largest and
Destination Introduction Fahua Temple is located on Fahua Temple Street in Chongwen District. Its founding date is unknown. It was renovated during the Kangxi and Tongzhi reigns of the Qing Dynasty and is one of the major temples in Beijing’s outer city. During the Qing Dynasty, the area around Fahua Temple was a military encampment for the Eight Banners army, known as the Barracks. In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (1661), it was converted into a training ground for the Plain Blue Banner. The temple is a key...
The Southeast Corner Tower is located in Dongcheng District. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it features a unique architectural style and serves as a distinctive example of Ming and Qing dynasty city defense facilities and watchtower architecture. It is listed as part of the second batch of municipal-level cultural heritage protection units in Beijing.…
Dongdan Park was built in 1955 and covers an area of 47,500 square meters. The park has planted over 8,000 trees, flowers, and lawns, offering a fresh environment shaded by green trees and filled with birdsong and floral scents. Originally part of the southern outskirts of Dadu during the Yuan Dynasty, the area was enclosed within the city walls when they were moved southward in the early Ming Dynasty. After the signing of the Boxer Protocol in 1901, it was designated as part of the Legation Quarter and became
The former site of the Jiangxi Guild Hall is located on Xuanwumen Outer Street. It was once the site of the Great Wall Windcoat Company. The original complex included a quadrangle courtyard building, a theater stage, and more. During the Republican era, memorial services for notable figures such as Cai E and Chen Shizeng were held here. In 1916, the National Citizens' Association was established here to oppose the expansion of the French Concession in Tianjin. …
Keyuan Garden is located in Mao’er Hutong, outside Di’anmen in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was the residential garden of Wen Yu, a grand secretary in the late Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), and is one of the best-preserved private gardens in Beijing. The garden covers an area approximately 100 meters long from north to south and about 70 meters wide from east to west. The layout is meticulously designed, with the western section featuring a traditional courtyard house.
It was the corner tower at the northeast corner of the inner city (imperial city) of Liao Dynasty’s Nanjing. The inner city was located in the southwest corner of Nanjing, with three of its corners adjoining the city walls, leaving only the northeast corner independent—where this tower was built in ancient times. “Yanjiao” is a homophone for “yan’ge” (smoke pavilion) or “xian’ge” (thread pavilion). Its former site is at the intersection of Guang’anmen Street and South & North Xiang’ge Streets today.…
Rendinghu Park is located at No. 25 Liupukang Street, Xicheng District, covering an area of 9.2 hectares. It is a garden in European style. The park features open woodlands, grassy lawns, and charming fountain landscapes. European-style sculptures abound. The World Garden History Scenic Area offers visitors a window into Western garden design. Upon entering through the south gate, the first thing you see is a solemn and magnificent colonnade, at the center of which stands a “Bathing Nymph Emerging from the Water” fountain. The Sunken Garden spans 3,000 square meters, surrounded by dozens of fountains whose splashing water and thunderous cascades create a symphony akin to clashing metals. Ascending the steps leads you to the World Garden History Area; white marble murals depict the history of gardens around the world. Here, you can feast your eyes on dreamlike sceneries including the Garden of Eden, ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Babylonian gardens, Islamic courtyards, the gardens of Versailles, Italian terraced gardens, as well as classic Chinese landscapes like the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. In the northern part of the park, a group of modern sculptures titled “Melody of Life” stands above the mirror-like lake surface, radiating an uplifting energy. More than ten plazas of various styles throughout the park provide spaces for socializing, gatherings, entertainment, and fitness.