Beihai Park, Beijing

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Loved this area - the old hutong shopping district was so quaint and the Lakes were amazing - Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai Lakes. Definitely should not be missed.

We hired tuk tuks for a treat and although it was a lot of fun it's also a bit of a rip off so beware. We paid 100RMBs for a one hour tour for two tuktuks and drivers...but after 10 minutes we pulled up outside an authentic hutong house museum and were told it would take 30 minutes to explore this place - and it was very expensive to visit - as we were staying in a Hutong we decided to forego this and the drivers were very unhappy to have to return to work and told us the ride would be only be 20 mins as the 30 mins stop was incorporated in the 1 hour tour.... omitted to tell us this at the start. But still a bit of fun exploring the area on this mode of transport.

It is very peaceful and serene - you need this in China!!

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Near the rockery design, there is Qin quan corridor, literal gushed spring water. And water stands for wisdom in China and is fit for reading room.Then I bought feed for golden fishes here cost 3 yuan rmb, for the fishes were cute and friendly. In short, it is really a dream studying room.

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Ihe north of Jingxin Zhai, there are rockery designs imitating Suzhou Gardens in south China. Emperor Qianlong had been there and really appreciated them, for they stand for mountains companied hermits. But for me in my childhood, it means a excited place to explore, and to play hide and find with my friends. I also remember my parents and i visited here in snow. The rockeries were covered in snow and it is so quiet that you can hear the voice of falling of snow.

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The first building was used for reading.

For readers, we hardly gain same feelings or understandings in a book except reading 2+2=4. The designer of Jing xin Zhai was a smart one and his work make each people to gain different feelings here. So the whole Jing xin Zhai looks like a book, the scenes continue to change as walking.

Time for Jingxin Zhai only: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The most important parts of Beihai Park is Jing xin Zhai. If you just have half an hour, you need to spend 25 minutes here. As i came into the Jingxin Zhai, I want to ask a question to myself. When i free from my heavy homeworks and decide to read a good book in a comfortable place, where can i go? library, cafe, or my study room at home?

The emperor's answer is study room at home. Jingxin Zhai, literal means a calm study room, is a patio for reading.

Price: free
Time: For Jingxin Zhai only, 9 am to 4 pm

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Tuancheng City means City of Harmony or Circular City and used to be part of Daning Palace in the Jin Dynasty (265-420 A.D.). It was called Yuandi or Yingzhou during the Yuan dynasty when it was part of Kublai Khan's palace. The city wall stands about 4.6 meters (about 15 feet) high and has a circumference of 276 meters (about 906 feet). Among the various places to visit in the Circular City including halls, towers and pavilions, the most important construction is the Chengguang Hall which holds the extremely precious white jade statue of Buddha introduced from Burma at the end of Qing Dynasty. In front of the hall is a grand urn, made in 1265 out of variegated dark jade. With a diameter of 1.5 meters (about 4.9 feet), a circumference of 5 meters (about 16.4 feet), a height of 0.7 meters (about 2.3 feet) and a weighing 3.5 tons, the urn used to be the vessel of Kublai Khan for storing wine.

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The Yong'an Temple (Temple of Everlasting Peace), sits on Qionghua Island at the foot of the small hill where the White Dagoba resides. It was built in 1651 at the same time as the White Dagoba and was named after it before being renamed in 1741. It was then expanded in 1743 with the addition of a bell tower, drum tower and new entrance hall.

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Built in 1651, the Bai Ta (White Dagoba) is a 40 m high stupa placed on the highest point on Qionghua Island - a small islet within Beihai Park. Its body is made of white stone. It was badly shaken by earthquakes which occurred in 1679 and 1730 and was rebuilt on both occasions. It again suffered bad damaged during the Tang Shan earthquake of 1976. Inside, the Dagoba holds Buddhist scriptures, a monk's mantle and alms bowl and two pieces of Sarira.

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Beihai (North Sea) Park is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the centre of Beijing. Initially built in the 10th century, it is amongst the largest of Chinese gardens, and contains numerous historically important structures, palaces and temples. The park was repaired and rebuilt in the following dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing (1115 - 1911). The large-scale rebuilding in the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) generally established the present scale and pattern of Beihai Park and it was first opened to the public in 1925.

The Park has an area of more than 69 hectares, with a lake that covers more than half of the entire Park. At the centre of the Park is an island called Qionghua Island with a highest point of 32m. The 40m high Bai Ta (White Dagoba) stupa sits on top of this hill and is reached by walking through the Yong'an Temple (Temple of Everlasting Peace). Other features in the park include a double-sided nine dragon screen wall and the Circular City - a wall that is the only remains of Kublai Khan's palace.

Admission: RMB20.

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clear sky, few clouds, pinky lotus, gentle breeze...
maybe thats why there are so many local senior just seat in the shade watching the lake without doing anything, i hardly believe anyone wouldnt enjoy this moment, even i wanna drop my camera just seat here looking at lotus dance with wind. anyway, i cannot do that. so have to keep going, this peaceful part is south of Beihai park, which is in front of Tuancheng City.
my plan today is walk from south gate to north gate of Beihai park, then walk to South Luogu Lane.
Actually Beihai Park is much nicer than my thought, especially the north of Beihai:Wulongting\Xiaoxitian\Western Elysium\Hall of Spiritual Peace\Nine-Dragon Screen...are all worth to go.
Jade Flowery Islet/ Qiong Islet, since i came here b4, its not a big supurise for me though.