| Zhongshan Park |
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Zhongshan Park is located to the west of Tian anmen Rostrum
in the heart of the Inner City. It is the site of the former Altar
of Land and Grain.
Entering through the main southern entrance, one comes to a large
vestibular pavilion with long corridors running off to the east
and west. In front of the pavilion is a white marble memorial archway
erected by the Qing government to commemorate the German Minister
Baron von Kettler, who was killed during the Yihetuan Movement ( Boxer
Rebellion ) in 1900. This archway originally stood
outside the western entrance to the Xizongbu Alley, but after Germany
s defeat in World War I, it was removed to the Zhongshan Park and
inscribed with the words Triumph of Righteousness (Gongli
Zhansheng). After 1949 it was rein scribed in Guo Moruo
s handwriting with Defeat the Peace (Baowei
Heping).
To the east stands a beautiful specimen of Taihu Lake stone known
as a slice of dark clouds, which was
moved here from Yuanmingyuan. Emperor Qianlong composed its inscription.
There is a peony pond, a wisteria arbor and, to the north, a grove
of cypresses with trees said to have been planted in the Liao Dynasty.
Seven of the trees are so large that it takes three of four persons
with arms outstretched to encircle the trunk. One of the cypresses
on the eastern side is particularly unusual, because a scholar trees
is called the embrace of the scholar tree and the cypress.
The path that runs through the archway is lined with umbrella-like
scholar trees and verdant pines.
On the southern side of this east-west path lies a greenhouse with
fresh flowers on display all year round. Included are 39 varieties
of tulips presented to the park in 1977 by the Princess of Holland.
The eight Orchid Pavilion stela, standing
inside a hall nearby, are engraved in the hand of Emperor Qianlong
with the text of a famous preface to a collection of poems entitled
the Orchid Pavilion. The Pavilion Where the RITES Are Practiced
was moved to the Zhongshan Park from the Honglu Court, an office
which during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In imperial times all
officials coming to the capital to be received by the emperor for
the first time went first to the Honglu Court to learn the proper
protocol.
To the south of this path there is also a display of rare goldfish.
Further south, one comes to the quietest spot in the park, the area
of the Lotus Pool, Water-side Pavilion, Pavilion of Four Contentment
and the Pavilion to Welcome the Sunshine.
On the north side of the path is the Altar of Land and Grain. Here
the landscape is particularly charming. With the lofty Concert Hall
to the east and the Health Education hall to the west. The area
is planted with numerous fruit trees, herbaceous peonies and green
lawns. A wide path through the center of the lawns leads to the
altar.
To the east of the altar is the Pavilion of the Pines and Cypresses
and a tall rockery. Footpaths lead to secluded nooks and wind their
ways to the cross-shaped Touhu Pavilion, which takes its name from
an old game of throwing arrows into a pot. South of this building
lies the Kiosk for Meeting New Friends (Laijinyuxuan) where refreshments
are sold.
To the west of the Altar of Land and Grain is the liveliest part
of the park. Here among a forest of cypress trees stand artificial
hills, thatched pavilions, a teahouse, a restaurant, a children
s playground and an amusement park.
To the north of the altar past the Zhongshan Hall is another copse
of cypress trees, among which is a stone table built of hollow bricks
dating from the Han Dynasty. The classically elegant designs on
the old bricks are still quite distinct. The moat (Tongzihe or Tube
River) is also known as the Imperial River (Yuhe) and is used for
ice skating in the winter and boating during the summer and autumn.
Over 1,000 years ago the site of Zhongshan Park was the Temple
of National Prosperity, which stood in the northeast suburbs of
Yanjing, the Liao Dynasty capital. Under the Yuan Dynasty, the name
of the temple was changed to the Temple of Longevity and National
Prosperity. Although no traces of the old buildings remain, the
ancient cypresses planted inside the temple serve as a reminder
of those days. In 1421, the Ming Emperor Yongle built the Altar
of Land and Grain symmetrically opposite the Imperial Ancestral
(Taimiao) Temple, which stands to the east of Tian anmen
Rostrum. In 1914, the altar was renamed Central Park and opened
to the public on October 10. In 1928, the park was renamed Zhongshan
Park in tribute to the memory of Sun Yat-sen. |
