HISTORY & CULTURE
Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park
Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park is known as the first and the largest “open air museum” in Beijing. It is also the biggest ticket-free park and has the largest grassland, with birds singing and trees flourishing. The park is divided into the Chaoyang section and the Haidian section. The Chaoyang section is 4.8 kilometres long and 130 to 160 metres wide and takes up an area of 67 hectares. If linked with the Haidian section, the park becomes the largest belt-shaped park in Beijing with a total length of 9 kilometres. Therefore, it is often nicknamed the Green Belt of Beijing.
Prince Shuncheng Mansion
Prince Shuncheng Mansion was originally the residence of Prince Shuncheng, one of the eight princes that founded the Qing Dynasty. In 1994, it was moved from its original place in Xicheng District to South Chaoyang Park Road. Looked from afar, its white marble arches stand loftily and its stele shines brightly, with its doors painted in red. It strikes people with awe.
Passing the arch of Prince Shuncheng Mansion and the iron threshold, you will step into a world of pavilions, terraces and towers. Red flowers contrast with green trees. Two wing buildings are on both sides and the main building stands in the middle. You will be overwhelmed by an air of nobleness and elegance.
Zhang Yi Ancestral Hall
Zhang Yi Ancestral Hall faces south and is built as a two-part quadrangle, covering an area of about 1,700 square metres. The materials used are carefully selected and the construction techniques are excellent.
Zhang Yi (1852-1915) had presided over the construction of the tomb of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Beijing Dongyue Temple
Beijing Dongyue Temple, known as the number one Taoist temple in north China, is situated on Chaowai Street. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty, more than 600 years ago.
The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower stand on the east side and the west side of the temple respectively. To the north are two stone tablets awarded by the Qing emperor Qianlong. The Hall of Taishan Mountain is the main construction in the Dongyue Temple, its red walls and green tiles having an air of magnificence. There are about 600 rooms in the temple, which house 3,000 statues of deities, with various forms and vivid facial expressions.
It is more than a famous Taoist temple; it is a museum where you can learn through its collections about the folk customs in China.
Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda
Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda represents a perfect integration of Han, Tibetan and Indian Buddhist architectures. The structure and form of the main pagoda follow the style of Tibetan Buddhist pagodas, while the general layout and overall structure present the Indian Bodhgaya style. The decoration and patterns on the pagoda indicate traditional techniques of Chinese art. This trinity, blending various architectural styles, is a masterpiece of Buddhist pagoda architectures of China’s Qing Dynasty, which also symbolizes cohesion between the people living in the central plains and the borders.
Beiding Niangniang Temple
Beiding Niangniang Temple is located in the area of Olympic Sports Centre of Olympic Village Sub-district, Chaoyang District, Beijing, south of the National Aquatics Centre. As one of the famous “Five Roofs” temples in Beijing’s history, it is also a landmark at the northern end of the central axis of Beijing. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty and rebuilt during Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The temple is dedicated to the main god “Bixia Yuanjun”, also known as “Taishan Niangniang”, the daughter of Emperor Dongyue of Mount Tai.
Pagoda of Buddhas from Ten Directions
Located in the Ancient Pagoda Park in Wangsiying Town, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Pagoda of Buddhas from Ten Directions was built in the 24th year of Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1545).
The south-facing brick pagoda is about 30 metres high, with octagonal and nine-stage eaves and an arched doorway on the south. Above the doorway is a stone plaque engraved with “Pagoda of Buddhas from Ten Directions”. The builder was Cui Feng (1468-1549), a Zen master and the abbot of Yanshou Temple at that time when the pagoda got its name. There had been Yanshou Temple in front of the pagoda, built in the 18th year of Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, but was destroyed by the Eight-Power Allied Forces who invaded China at the end of the Qing Dynasty.
