Beihai Park (North Sea Park)
Eight hundred years ago, in Jin Period, people dug out a
lake called Taiye Lake here. In 1179, a Daninggong Temple was built, and the Beihai Park
emerged. In Yuan Period, after the park had been extended, the new city wall of Beijing
was built around it. So it is said that it is the Beihai Park which caused the birth of
Beijing City.
To the south of Beihai, Zhonghai(Middle Sea) and Nanhai(South sea) were developped. By
now, the Zhongnanhai(Middle and South Sea) has become the place for the government to deal
with political affairs, and th Beihai has become a great interest for common people.
Qionghua Island
The Qionghua Island is an island in the south part of the Beihai Lake. There are various flowers and trees on the island. It is said that if you go to the island in spring, you'd better choose a cloudy day. "Spring Clouds Over the Qionghua Island" is a very famous view.
White Pagoda
There is a small hill on the Qionghua Island. Many trees
grow on the hill and keep it green all over the year. And, what is the most wonderful,
there is a White Pagoda on the top of the hill.
The shape of the pagoda is just like a vase with a very fine neck. It is half as tall as
the hill. It stands transcendently on the hill, above the green trees.