Beijing Gongyuan

　　The Gongyuan was an examination hall for the imperial civil service examinations in ancient times, the place where candidates were selected through exams to serve the emperor or the state. The term "Gong" means selecting talents through examinations to contribute to the emperor or the country. The Gongyuan first appeared during the Tang Dynasty. Existing sites include the Jiangnan Gongyuan, Beijing Gongyuan, Dingzhou Gongyuan, and Chuanbei Dao Gongyuan, among which the Jiangnan Gongyuan, as the largest ancient imperial examination site in China, is the most famous.

　　Gongyuan

　　On the north side of Jianguomennei Avenue, there stands the building of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Nearby hutongs are also named “Gongyuan East Street,” “Gongyuan West Street,” and Gongyuan First Alley, Second Alley, Third Alley, etc. Originally, this was the site of the ancient Beijing examination hall—the Gongyuan.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development