When it comes to touring the old city of Beijing, there is no better option than the central axis located at the heart of the city – a 7.8-kilometer-long line that links some of Beijing's most recognizable ancient architecture from north to south, including the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, the Forbidden City as well as the Temple of Heaven.
In the middle of the line lies a former imperial garden, now one of the most sought-after parks in the city, named Jingshan.
The gate of the Guande Palace in Jiangshan Park, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, December 6, 2020. Wu Yan/CGTN
Constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Jingshan Park is adjacent to the imperial palace of the Forbidden City to the south. During the reign of Emperor Yongle – the third emperor in the Ming Dynasty from 1402 to 1424 – an artificial hill, called Jingshan Hill, was built with earth excavated to form the moat surrounding the imperial palace.
Five pavilions can be seen perched on the five peaks of the hill. Among them, the Wanchun Pavilion, sitting right in the center, boasts the highest point and the best view overlooking the whole city.
A bird's-eye view of the Forbidden City from the Wanchun Pavilion in Jingshan Park, Beijing, China, December 6, 2020. Wu Yan/CGTN
Today the Wanchun Pavilion has become a photographic hotspot for tourists and shutterbugs. It's a common sight to see people holding cameras vying for a good spot to capture the sunrise, sunset and the night scenery.
A bird's-eye view of the Shouhuang Palace in Jingshan Park and the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north, Beijing, China, December 6, 2020. Wu Yan/CGTN
Standing in the northern part of the park, facing south, the Shouhuang Palace is the second largest architectural complex on the central axis, following the Forbidden City. It was initially constructed in 1749 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty to serve as a site to venerate the imperial ancestors.
The Shouhuang Palace, Beijing, China, December 6, 2020. Wu Yan/CGTN
It reopened to the public in late 2018 after a four-year restoration. Now the marble balustrades, red walls and pillars, and golden tiles gleam in sunshine.
One of the three decorated archways standing in front of the Shouhuang Palace, Beijing, China, December 6, 2020. Wu Yan/CGTN
Together with the pavilions and palaces, a wide array of trees and plants laid out across the park creates a classic Chinese royal garden. Especially when spring comes, the park is adorned with some 20,000 blooming peonies of different colors.
Travel tips:
Opening hours: From 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., closing an hour earlier in winter.
Ticket price: 2 yuan ($0.3). Tickets need to be booked online at least one day in advance.
Also check out the previous episode of the series: Ditan Park
(Cover image designed by Pan Yufei)