Beihai Park was built 1,000 years ago and is one of the oldest and best preserved imperial gardens in China. It is laid out in the “one lake and three hills” style and includes places of historical interest: Qiong Islet, Taiye Lake, the Heavenly King Hall, White Dagoba of Tibetan style and the Nine-Dragon Screen made of colorful glazed bricks. (We saw the oldest and largest glazed screen in Datong, China last year.)

The number nine is considered lucky in China and a Chinese dragon has nine attributes, nine forms and nine children. A “Nine Dragon Wall” is a screen wall with images of nine different and large dragons as well as small dragons along the edge, found in imperial palaces and gardens. Since the number “nine” was considered the number of the emperor, only the most senior officials were allowed to wear nine dragons on their robes and that is why the Nine Dragon Screens are so important.

Nine Dragon Screen, Datong, China 

Beihai Park Tibetan Stupa, Beijing 

Beihai Park and Lake, Beijing
On Fuchengmen Inner Street is another Imperial Temple. A royal temple where the Three Emperors (The Fuxi, Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang) were worshipped during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The key sights here are a Screen Wall, Stele (beyond which everybody had to get off their horse, other Steles set up by the Emperors and the Jingde Chongsheng Hall.

We visited Jingshan Park, third on the list of Imperial Palaces and Gardens in this area. Read all the fun details tomorrow.

Introduction to Jingshan Park, Beijing
The Bell and Drum Towers are usually included in most tours of Beijing, the following are not. The Imperial Icehouse, a remnant of the Old City Wall, any one of the three existing City Gates (Deshengman Embrasured Watchtower is one), Temple of The Moon and the Imperial Inspector’s Office of Qing Dynasty.