‘Small Hills’ in Beijing City, Due to the Ming Dynasty’s Emperor Chongzhen, Become Popular Tourist Attractions
Visiting Beijing for tourism, most tourists will visit sites such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and the Yuanming Garden for sightseeing. The area with the most tourists and the densest attractions is near the Forbidden City. The most special scenic spot is Jingshan Park. This park is located on Beijing's central axis, was once Beijing's highest point, and tourists who want to admire a panoramic view of the magnificent Forbidden City need to climb this 'small hill' to the top of the Wan Chun Pavilion.
Why is it called 'small hill'? Because its height is only 42.6 meters, and it was not formed naturally.
Jingshan Park is famous primarily because of the Ming Dynasty's last emperor, Chongzhen.
During the time when Li Zicheng attacked Beijing, Chongzhen, realizing he was unable to contend, hanged himself on a gnarled old locust tree at the foot of Jingshan, this famous historical event has been written into textbooks. Many tourists come to Jingshan to tour and feel a little bit of curiosity at the place where Chongzhen hanged himself. In a certain sense, it satisfies a little bit of curiosity.
Aside from Chongzhen's self-hanging historical anecdote, Jingshan Park has beautiful scenery. Visiting here makes you feel that it was worth the trip.
Standing on the viewing platform of the Wan Chun Pavilion overlooking the Forbidden City, the vast Ming and Qing imperial palace architecture is suddenly in front of your eyes. The sky is clear and the clouds are light, the sunlight shines on the palace walls, and the scene is magnificent. It is very appropriate to describe the scenery you see with the word 'shocking'.
Standing on the Wan Chun Pavilion to appreciate the beauty of the Forbidden City is like opening a wide-angle lens, which is completely different from close-range viewing inside the Forbidden City.
Originally, Jingshan Park was formed as a mound after the diversion of the Yongding River. The Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties continued to pile earth on the mound to build palaces, and the mound became higher and higher, eventually forming the scale of today. Although Jingshan is not very high, because Beijing's terrain is relatively flat, plus there were no skyscrapers in ancient times, so it didn't appear 'out of place like a chicken'.
The center of Beijing is marked by the location of the Wan Chun Pavilion. This point is also a popular tourist spot. Many tourists take photos at this location to 'check in' and 'take a picture' when they come here. Standing at this location to admire the Forbidden City has the most balanced perspective on both sides.
There are many majestic and elegant pavilions and towers in Jingshan Park, such as Guan Miao Ting, Wan Chun Ting, Zhou Shang Ting, Ji Fang Ting, and Fulǎn Ting, all built during the 15th year of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of more than 200 years.
Because of its royal attributes, the paintings on the beams and domes of the pavilions and towers in Jingshan Park have a strong royal characteristic.
Have you ever been to Beijing? Have you visited Jingshan Park?
