Beijing | Zhongshan Park

Beijing Zhongshan Park is a commemorative classical temple garden located at No. 4 Zhonghua Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing (west side of Tiananmen), adjacent to Tiananmen to the east, covering an area of about 23.8 hectares. Zhongshan Park has a long history. During the Liao Dynasty, it was known as Xingguo Temple, and in the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Wanshou Xingguo Temple. In the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420), it was built as the Altar of Land and Grain according to the Zhou Li's regulation of 'left ancestor, right altar,' where the emperor worshipped the gods of earth and grain. From the 19th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty to the 3rd year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties or their officials held more than 1,300 sacrificial activities here. In 1914, under the initiative and supervision of Zhu Qiqian, the Minister of the Interior of the Beiyang Government, the Altar of Land and Grain was converted into a park and opened to the public, initially called Central Park, making it the first public garden in Beijing at that time. After the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1925, his coffin was placed in the worship hall (now Zhongshan Hall) in the park for public mourning, and in 1928, the park was renamed Zhongshan Park in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The buildings in the park are mainly composed of three parts: • Relics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: Located in the central part of the park, including the Altar of Land and Grain, the worship hall (Zhongshan Hall), and the sacrificial pavilion. The Altar of Land and Grain is a square, three-layer structure, with the upper layer paved with five-colored altar soil representing the five directions: east blue, south red, west white, north black, and center yellow, symbolizing 'all under heaven belongs to the king.' In the center of the altar stands the 'Stone of the Altar Master.' The worship hall is an important building on the central axis of the Altar of Land and Grain, with five rooms in width and three rooms in depth, featuring a hip-and-gable roof with yellow glazed tiles. The interior is decorated with golden dragon and seal patterns, originally serving as a resting place for the emperor during sacrifices or a place to conduct sacrifices in case of rain. • Relocated ancient relics: Such as the Xili Pavilion located on the south side of the South Altar Gate in the western part of the park. This pavilion has a yellow glazed tile roof and a hexagonal shape, built on a two-layered platform. It was originally located in the Honglu Temple Yamen on Bingbu Street inside Zhengyangmen, serving as a place for newly arrived civil and military officials to practice the etiquette of audience with the emperor during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. • Garden buildings with national characteristics and modern buildings: Such as the Tanghua Pavilion, Huifang Garden, and Yuyuan Garden in the eastern part of the park, as well as modern buildings like the Science Popularization House. The Tanghua Pavilion, built in 1915, has a classical Chinese architectural style and is a place for year-round flower exhibitions in the park. In addition, there are scenic spots such as the Lanting Eight-Pillar Pavilion, the Pine and Cypress Pavilion, the Divine Kitchen, and the Divine Warehouse. The Lanting Eight-Pillar Pavilion houses a stone stele and eight stone pillars inscribed with text. The front of the stele is engraved with the 'Lanting Gathering' and 'Inscription' from the 9th year of Yonghe in the Jin Dynasty, while the back is inscribed with poems composed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The Pine and Cypress Pavilion is a double-eaved hexagonal pavilion built in 1915. The Divine Kitchen and Divine Warehouse are located at the southwest corner of the Five-Color Altar, with the Divine Warehouse used for storing divine tablets and shrines, and the Divine Kitchen for preparing sacrificial offerings. Zhongshan Park boasts rich cultural activities and distinctive landscapes. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit approved by the State Council, a capital civilized unit, one of Beijing's first batch of boutique parks, and a AAAA-level scenic spot. Its opening hours vary with the seasons: usually from April 1 to May 31 and from September 1 to October 31, it is open from 6:00 to 21:00; from June 1 to August 31, it is open from 6:00 to 22:00; and from November 1 to March 31 of the following year, it is open from 6:30 to 20:00. The ticket price is 3 yuan on weekdays, with half-price tickets at 1.5 yuan.