China 2012: Beihai park
This park is located in the northwest of the forbidden city, and from its top on Qiónghuá Island, from the white pagoda (aka Bai Ta), we can have a very nice panorama on walls and buildings of the forbidden city.
This park was built up through five dynasties, the Liao (916-1125), the Jin (1115-1234), the Yuan (1271-1368), the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911)
This park is actually a former imperial garden only open to public attendance in 1925. It was first built in the 10th century, and covers more than 69 hectares with a lake that covers more than half of the entire park.
Beihai literally means "Northern Sea".
The Bai Ta is a 40 m high stupa placed on the highest point on Qiónghuá Island. Its body is made of white stone. Sun, moon and flame engravings decorate the surface of the tower. It was destroyed in 1679 by an earthquake, it was rebuilt the following year, and restored again in 1976. We can still see tracks on the stupa.
Just for information, you will have to pay again if you want to get the panorama view from the pagoda.
Compared to the crowdy forbidden city, the Beihai park offers quietness, overall when a slight wind refresh the warm days of summer. We had a nice time over there.
4 of the Five-Dragon Pavilions
the stone stele of Wanfo Tower:
The Wanfo tower (tower of Ten-thousand Buddha) was built by emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty to celebrate the 80th birthday of his mother. The stele was built in 1770 and presents 4 versions of the same poem written by the emperor in commemoration of the completion of the tower in Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan languages. The stele was moved here in 1987.
This park was built up through five dynasties, the Liao (916-1125), the Jin (1115-1234), the Yuan (1271-1368), the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911)
This park is actually a former imperial garden only open to public attendance in 1925. It was first built in the 10th century, and covers more than 69 hectares with a lake that covers more than half of the entire park.
Beihai literally means "Northern Sea".
The Bai Ta is a 40 m high stupa placed on the highest point on Qiónghuá Island. Its body is made of white stone. Sun, moon and flame engravings decorate the surface of the tower. It was destroyed in 1679 by an earthquake, it was rebuilt the following year, and restored again in 1976. We can still see tracks on the stupa.
Just for information, you will have to pay again if you want to get the panorama view from the pagoda.
Compared to the crowdy forbidden city, the Beihai park offers quietness, overall when a slight wind refresh the warm days of summer. We had a nice time over there.
4 of the Five-Dragon Pavilions
the stone stele of Wanfo Tower:
The Wanfo tower (tower of Ten-thousand Buddha) was built by emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty to celebrate the 80th birthday of his mother. The stele was built in 1770 and presents 4 versions of the same poem written by the emperor in commemoration of the completion of the tower in Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan languages. The stele was moved here in 1987.
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