Round
City (Tuan Cheng)
Round City stands at the west side of the south gate of Beihai Park.
It is a round building surrounded by a 5-meter-high wall, and has a
distinctive courtyard studded with halls, pavilions and ancient trees.
With a
circumference of only 276 meters, 4,500 square metres in area, Round
City is perhaps the smallest city in the world. The walls of the city
protected the residence of Kublai Khan, the first emperor of the Yuan
dynasty(1271-1368). The major building in the Round City is Chengguangdian
(the Hall to Receive the Light), Yuwengting (Jade Jar Pavilion) and
an 800-year-old pine tree. The Round City is of great artistic value
in the history of ancient gardening in China.
The
Hall of Receiving Light (Chengguang Hall) is the main structure
in the Round Cityhas
a square platform in front and a roof of several tiers of flying eaves.
The roof is covered with glazed yellow tiles and edged with green glazed
tiles. During the Ming Dynasty the emperor liked to come here to watch
fireworks. It was converted into a Buddha hall during the Qing Dynasty.
Now there is a Buddha statue of white jade in it.
The Hall
of Receiving the Light was built in 1746 after the style of the watchtower
in the Palace Museum. It has two verandahs, one on the east side and
the other on the west. To the west in the rear are the Pavilion of Penetrating
Fragrance and the Pavilion of Clear Ripples. To the east are the Ancient
Musical Pipe Pavilion and the Pavilion of Scattered Clouds.
Jade
Urn
The Jade Jar, which is 0.66 metre high and 1.5 metres in diameter, was
used as a wine vessel by Kublai Khan during the Yuan Dynasty. Carved
out of a whole piece of jade 700 years ago, the jar weighs 3.5 tons.
It was originally kept in the Palace in the Moon. The Jade Urn is carved
out of a single piece of black jade. On its outer surface are designs
of sea-dragons and other marine beasts amidst rolling waves, and inside
is inscribed a poem by Emperor Qianlong about the jar. After the Palace
in the Moon collapsed in the Ming Dynasty, the Jade Jar was taken to
Zhenwumiao (True Martial Temple), where it was used as a pickle jar.
It was recovered in 1749. A pavilion was built especially to house it
on the order of Emperor Qianlong.
The
statue of Buddha, 1.5 meters high, carved
from a block of lustrous jade, a present from Burma to Empress Dowager
Cixi. It was carved out of a whole piece of jade. The crown and garment
are of gold foil and inlaid with red and green crystals. Its left arm
bears gashes made by swords, a result of the looting of soldiers of
the Eight-Power Allied Forces who invaded Beijing in 1900. But now you
can hardly find it after repair.
Lacebark
Pine
When you go up the terrace, you can see an ancient lacebark pine on
your right about 20 metres tall. The pine was planted in the Jin Dynasty, one of the oldest in Beijing. The cypress trees in front of
the Hall to Receive the Light are all several hundred years old. Emperor
Qianlong is said to have granted titles to these ancient trees: for
example, the General in White Robe, for the white bark pine. East of
the Hall to Receive the Light there is an 800-year-old tree. It is 10.46
metres high, 94.6 centimeters in diameter, shades the sun from 107.6
square metres. The pine was named the Sunshade Marquess by Emperor Qianlong
of the Qing Dynasty as he once sheltered under it on a hot summer day.
A lightning rod has been placed on top of the tree, and it is still
growing healthily although one of its branches was broken by heavy snow
in 1960.
In Beijing
detailed records 4,200 pine trees which
are more than 300 years old, have been compiled. Similar work is also
being carried out on some another 20,000 trees, aged between 100 and
300 years.
Since 1983, detailed records have been built up listing each tree's
age, height, diameter, shade area, and environment and including photographs
and any legendary story attached to the tree. The information is fed
into a computer and is used for research work aiming at better protecting
these aged trees.
Local groups set up to compile records in parks, at historical sites
and scenic spots are also now caring for the old trees by providing
manure, irrigation and insecticides.
Beijing Private Tour to Beihai Park
Beijing Tour
Beijing Hotel
Beijing Photo
Beijing Tour Routes Covers Beihai Park
Chinatravelkey can add Beihai Park in the following tours with extra cost 10 USD per person.
Photo of Beihai Park
        
|
Home: China Attractions : Beijing Attractions :
Home