
Jingshan Park
Man-made hill of five peaks and pavilions built from moat earth, overlooking the old imperial palace.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Jingshan Park in Beijing follows the last days of the Ming dynasty in 1644, when Beijing fell to rebel forces and the emperor Chongzhen vanished from the Forbidden City below. It traces the hand-built hill itself, mounded from earth dug out of the palace moats to shield the palace according to feng shui belief, its five peaks each crowned with a pavilion built for emperors to admire their capital. Look south toward the golden roofs for the view the story keeps returning to.
This audio guide was created using AI.
Similar places
Fragrant Hills Park (East Gate 2)
Imperial hillside retreat and pleasure garden, twice burned by foreign armies, later a secret revolutionary headquarters.
Zhongshan Park
Former imperial altar of white marble soil in five colors, now a tranquil public garden beside the Forbidden City.
Beihai Park
Sprawling imperial garden lake ringed by pavilions, centered on an islet crowned with a white Tibetan dagoba.
Forbidden City
Vast Ming-dynasty imperial palace of golden-roofed halls and courtyards, home to twenty-four emperors over five centuries.
Summer Palace
Vast imperial garden of a lake and hill, with pavilions, a marble-style boat and covered walkways rebuilt for an empress.
Yuanmingyuan Park
Sprawling imperial garden ruins of marble columns and shattered fountains from a palace burned in eighteen sixty.