Zhongshan Park in Beijing
Zhongshan Park is a former imperial altar and now a public park. The Zhongshan Park includes various halls and pavilions built for the members of the imperial family, stone archways and a greenhouse that houses fresh flowers on display all year round.
English Name: Zhongshan Park in Beijing
Chinese Name: 北京中山公园
Attraction Type: Beijing Attraction, Park, Nature, History
Best Time to Visit: Whole year
Recommended Visiting Time: about 1-2 hours
Admission Fee: CNY 3
Address in English: Dongcheng District, Beijing
Address in Chinese: 北京市东城区
Why is Zhongshan Park in Beijing so Special?
Zhongshan Park is a former imperial altar and now a public park. The Zhongshan Park includes various halls and pavilions built for the members of the imperial family, stone archways and a greenhouse that houses fresh flowers on display all year round.
Where is Zhongshan Park in Beijing?
The Zhongshan Park is located just at the southwest of the Forbidden City in the Imperial City, Beijing.
How to Get There?
- Take No.4, 5, 10, 22, 37, 52, 726, 802, and get off at Zhongshan Dongguan(Zhongshan Park) station. Come to the north side of the road, walk eastwards for 5min and arrive at the south door of Zhongshan Park.
- Take Metro Line 1, get off at Tiananmen West Station; take exit B, walk eastwards for 5 min and arrive at the south door of Zhongshan Park.
Main Attraction
Altar of Land and Grain (Shejitan)
Walking forward to the center of Zhongshan Park, you can see the main buildings, the ancient land and food altar (Shejitan). Founded in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Liao (907-1125) yuan (1271-1368) was rebuilt as Xingguo temple. In 1421, Zhu Di, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, rebuilt it as a “grain altar”. This is a three-layer square terrace made of white marble. The upper platform of the altar is paved with five colored earth, so it is also called the five-colored Earth altar. It is a symbol of imperial power and harvest.
To the southwest of the altar are the Royal storehouse and the royal kitchen. The former is used to place objects related to sacrifice, such as shrines, statues, plaques, sacrificial utensils, etc. The latter is where food is prepared and kitchen utensils are stored. Not far from the Royal warehouses and kitchens, there are also slaughterhouses for sacrificial animals.
Zhongshan Hall
Tourists walk across the land and grain altar, heading north, to Zhongshan Hall, formerly known as the imperial chapel. Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s coffin was once there, so it is now called Zhongshan Hall. It is regarded as the most complete building in the Ming Dynasty.
Forbidden City Concert Hall
To the southeast of Zhongshan Hall lies the Forbidden City Concert Hall. It was built in 1942 and now covers an area of more than 4,000 square meters (4,783 square yards). It is a modern multi-functional and international level theater with both Chinese and Western characteristics. It is also an ideal place to appreciate classical music.
Useful Travel Tips
- Admission Fee:
CNY 3;
Free for children who are under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet);
A combined ticket for Tanghua Greenhouse and Huifang Garden: CNY 5;
During the Tulip Fair ( late March to mid-May) CNY 10.
- Opening Hours:
April to May & September to October: 6:00 – 21:00; the last ticket is available at 20:00
June to August: 6:00 – 22: 00; the last ticket is available at 21:00
November to March: 6:30 – 20:00; the last ticket is available at 19:00
Tanghua Greenhouse, Huifang Garden and Exhibition Hall: 9:00 – 17:00
