Beihai Park The history of Beihai Park goes back more than 800 years. In the 10th century, an imperial residence was built here. When Beijing became the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, the first Yuan emperor, Kublai Khan, had the park splendidly designed. The large picturesque stones on the park grounds were brought here from the Imperial Garden of the Northern Song Capital, Kaifeng. In 1651, the White Pagoda was built on the site of the ruins of Guanghan Palace that had been destroyed by an earthquake. Main attractions in Beihai Park are Round City, Jade Flower Island, White Pagoda, Wanfo Lou Tower, Nine-Dragon Wall, Iron Screen, Xiao Xitian Pavilion, and Chengguang Dian, etc.
Address: Coal Hill Area
Beijing Botanical Garden
Zhongshan Park
Working People’s Cultural Park
Yuanming Garden
Yuanming Garden lies on the northwestern outskirts of the city, north of Beijing University and only 500m from the Summer Palace. It was built during the Qing Dynasty over a period of 150 years and included three gardens: Yuanming Yuan, Changchun Yuan and Qichun Yuan. They were laid out separately, yet in a way so that they complement each other harmoniously. The area covered about 340 hectares. The three-in-one garden was considered a masterpiece of Chinese gardening. In 1860, however, the allied forces of Great Britain and France reduced it to cinders within ten days.
After the most valuable treasures had been stolen, the whole complex was turned over to plundering soldiers and finally went up in flames. Only a few scattered ruins of the Xiyang Lou, the European-style Building, can be seen-a portal, a stone turtle, etc.
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