These impeccable imperial gardens date back to the tenth century and count the legendary Kubla Khan amongst their most famous residents.
An ancient estate which radiates serenity, Beihai Park provides a natural refuge at the very centre of Beijing. Wander past scented flowerbeds, under ornately carved arches and past artists and minstrels perfecting their skills as you make your way through this former imperial pleasure garden.The park was designed and built in the tenth century under the Liao Dynasty and was extended and improved by the Emperors that followed. It is perhaps best known in the western world as the place where the Kubla Khan welcomed the famed Venetian explorer Marco Polo. Much of the current architecture dates back just over 100 years to the rule of the Qianlong Emperor.If you have travelled much around China, you’ll recognise a microcosm of the country’s widely varying landscapes in these gardens. Different plants and styles have been borrowed from the vast and disparate regions of the People’s Republic of China to create a garden that will guide you through the best of the Chinese countryside in just one afternoon.The northern half of the gardens is taken up by a large lake, which may account for the Park’s name: translated literally, Beihai means ‘North Sea’. Boats are available to hire from piers dotted around the bank, letting you explore the tiny islets strewn across the surface of the water. The Jade Flowery Islet, linked to the mainland by the decorative wooden Zhishan Bridge, plays home to the well-known White Dagoba – a Tibetan shrine dating back to the seventeenth century.Other sights you won’t want to miss include the spectacular Nine-Dragon wall just north of the lake, the smooth white stone walls and wooden pagodas of the Circular City to the southwest, and the picture-perfect Hao Pu Creek Garden.Beihai Park is open daily, subject to a small entry fee. Situated in the Xicheng District, it is within walking distance of Tiananmen Square. There is a bike-hire shop just outside the gates if you want to use the park as your first stop on a cycling tour of Beijing.
