Jingshan Park | The Perfect Central Axis of Beijing

Historical Origins: From Jin and Yuan Imperial Gardens to Ming and Qing 'Guardian Mountain'
Jingshan's history dates back to the Jin Dynasty. In the 19th year of the Dading era (1179), Emperor Shizong of Jin ordered the construction of an artificial hill here. During the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan incorporated it into the imperial garden, naming it 'Qingshan' (Green Mountain). After Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing, he built the mountain using soil excavated from the Forbidden City's moat and the South Sea, naming it 'Wanshou Mountain' (Longevity Mountain). The area was planted with fruit trees and populated with deer and cranes, becoming a royal retreat. In the 12th year of Emperor Shunzhi's reign during the Qing Dynasty (1655), it was renamed 'Jingshan,' inspired by a line from the Book of Songs: 'Climb that lofty Jingshan, where pines and cypresses flourish,' symbolizing reverence and the safeguarding of imperial power. During Emperor Qianlong's reign, Jingshan reached its zenith: five pavilions were built atop the hill, and the Shouhuang Hall was relocated to the central axis, forming the layout we see today.

Key Attractions: Royal Elegance and Historical Imprints
1️. Wanchun Pavilion
The highest point on the central axis (94.2 meters above sea level), featuring a triple-eaved, yellow-glazed tile roof with a four-cornered spire. It originally housed a statue of Vairocana Buddha. From the pavilion, visitors can gaze southward at the golden roofs of the Forbidden City, northward at the Bell and Drum Towers, westward at the White Pagoda in Beihai Park, and eastward at the modern skyline of the CBD, capturing a blend of ancient and modern vistas.

2️. Shouhuang Hall Complex
The second-largest architectural complex on the central axis after the Forbidden City. Reconstructed in the 14th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1749) following the layout of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it was used to enshrine portraits and seals of Qing emperors and empresses. After its restoration in 2016, the main hall now displays 74 items from the Guangxu era, including altars and dragon-patterned cabinets, recreating the royal ancestral worship scene.

3️. Qi Wang Tower
Built in the 15th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1750), this double-eaved, yellow-glazed tile-roofed structure once served as a site for Confucian ceremonies by the Jingshan Academy. Today, it is a starting point for panoramic views.

4️. Site of Emperor Chongzhen's Hanging
A stele marks the spot near a locust tree on the eastern slope where Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty ended his life in 1644, following the fall of Beijing to Li Zicheng's forces, marking the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Jingshan is not only a royal garden but also a symbolic element of Beijing's urban planning. Its five peaks suppress the site of the Yuan Dynasty's Yan Chun Pavilion, reinforcing the significance of the central axis. Shouhuang Hall, as the core of ancestral worship, embodies the Confucian principle of 'governing the world through filial piety.' Converted into the Beijing Children's Palace in 1955, Shouhuang Hall returned to Jingshan in 2013, becoming a key site in the central axis's World Heritage nomination.

Post by Zhicheng Travel | Nov 1, 2025