The Beihai park in the center of Beijing has an area of more than
70 hectares with a water surface of 39 hectares. To its north is
Shishahai Lake and to its east is Jingshan Park. The Palace Museum
is to its southeast, a short distance.
The imperial court of the Liao Dynasty a temporary palace on the
site of present Beihai Park in the 10th century. During the
following Jin Dynasty a lake was dug. The excavated earth was piled
to make a hill. Around the lake and on the hill palatial halls,
corridors and pavilions were erected. The imperial court of the
Yuan Dynasty which came after the Jin expanded Jionghua Islet in
the lake and made it the center of its capital Dadu City.
During the Ming Dynasty five pavilions linked with zigzag bridges
were built in the northwestern part of the lake. During the region
of Emperor Qian Long (1736-1796) a large-scale project was carried
on over 30 years, making the palace a grand imperial garden.
Beihai Park is composed of Tuancheng (Circulate City), Jionghua
Islet, Eastern Shore Scenic Area and Northwestern Shore Scenic
Area, with Jionghua Islet as the center. The small island is
connected with other parts by a stone bridge and ferry boats.
Bus No. 101, 103, 10, 812, 814 and 846 pass the south gate of the
park, Bus No. 107, 111, 118, 701 and 823 go to the north gate of
the park and No. 5 to the east gate of the park.How to Get to there?