Beihai and Round City

　　Beihai is China’s oldest surviving imperial garden, initially built during the Liao Dynasty. With a history of over 800 years, it is now known as Beihai Park in Beijing. During the Liao Dynasty, a palace called Yao? Palace was built here, modeled after the legendary Penglai Immortal Island. In the Jin Dynasty, the lake was expanded and rockeries were added to construct the Guanghan Palace. The Yuan Dynasty further expanded Qionghua Island three times and built the imperial city and gardens centered around the island. Subsequent expansions during the Ming and Qing Dynasties led to its current scale.

　　Beihai is located about 500 meters north 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. During the Ming Dynasty, Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai were collectively known as the Three Seas, also called Taiye Pool, and were listed as imperial forbidden gardens. In the early years of the Republic of China, Zhonghai and Nanhai were combined into one garden called Zhongnanhai, while Beihai became a separate garden. Qiongdao, located on the south side of the lake, is the central focus of the entire park. It was called Qionghua Island in the Jin Dynasty, renamed Wanshou Mountain in the Yuan Dynasty, and later became known as White Pagoda Hill due to the white pagoda built atop its summit. On the east bank of the lake are attractions such as Haopu Pond, Painting Boat Studio, and Silkworm Altar. The north bank, from east to west, includes Jingxin Studio, Heavenly King Hall, Nine-Dragon Screen, Kuai Xue Hall, Chanfu Temple, Ten-Thousand Buddha Tower, and the World of Ultimate Bliss (originally called Little Western Paradise).

　　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 between Beihai and Zhonghai. Round City is both part of Beihai Park and a uniquely styled independent small garden. Together with Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai, it forms one of the most beautiful scenic areas in 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 the third and nineteenth years of the Dading era (1163–1179), situated directly opposite the Guanghan Hall on Qionghua Island in Beihai, making it part of the imperial garden. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, additional structures such as the Chengguang Hall, Jade Vase Pavilion, Ancient Music Hall, Jingji Hall, Yuqing Studio, and Mirror Ripple Pavilion were built. Walls were erected around the island, along with battlements, giving Round City its initial form.

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