Beihai Park is one of the oldest, largest & best-preserved ancient Imperial Gardens located in the Centre of Beijing, said to be built according to the traditional Chinese Legend of 3 magic Mountains called “Penglai“, “Yingzhou” & “Fangzhang”. These 3 Mountains were located in the East of Bohai Bay in China, & the Gods in these Mountains had a Herbal medicine that would help humans gain immortality.

Many Emperors in the Feudul States therefore constantly sought these Mountains, in search of this Magical medicine. Wanting to live an eternal life, Qin Shihuang, the 1st Emperor of Jin Dynasty (221-206 BC), sent people to look for the Magic Mountians but they all failed. Then at his Palace, Qin Shihuang dug a large Pool & piled up 3 Earth Hills in it to imitate the circumstances described in the Legend.

It was believed that different Mountain-water combinations in ancient Chinese architecture led to different effects. Emperor Wudi, the 5th Emperor of Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD) also did the similar things as Qin Shihuang. And almost every Emperors in the succeeding Dynasties would build an Imperial Garden with the layout of one Pool with 3 Hills as a Fairyland near his Palace.

With a history of 1000 years, Beihai Park was also believed to be built based on this traditional style. The Taiye Pool with the water of Beihai (North Sea) with Zhong Nan Hai (Central & South Seas), together with the 3 Magical Mountains - the Jade Flowery Islet (or Qionghua Island), the Island of the Circular City, & the Xishantai Island.

Initially built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), Beihai Park was repaired & rebuilt in the following Jin, Yuan, Ming & Qing Dynasties (1115-1911). The present scale & pattern of today’s Beihai Park was the result of the large-scale rebuilding during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In 1925, Beihai Park was opened to the public, & in 1961, it was one of the 1st important Cultural sites placed under Protection by the State Council.

Covering an area of 69 hectares, with the 39-hectares Lake, the Landmark of Beihai Park is the 40 metres high White Dagoba (”Bai Ta” in Chinese) located on the Jade Flowery Islet in the middle of the Lake on the Central axis of the whole Park.

Dear & my visit to the Beihai Park was a very short one & I’ve included all the photos taken during our visit in the following Slideshow :