The Beihai Park located in the center of Beijing, it has an area of more than 70 hectares with a water surface of 39 hectares. To its north is
Shichahai Lake and to its east is Jingshan Park. The Palace Museum is to its southeast, a short distance.

The ancient garden, with over 1,000 years’ history, is not only a classic combination of the
grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China,
but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious
constructions.

The original design for the Beihai Park originates from an ancient tale. Chinese legend has
it that there were three islands across the eastern seas: Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang.
Gods in those islands had a kind of herbal pills which would help humans gain immortality.

Consequently, many emperors in the feudal age of China constantly sought those islands.
For example, Emperor Qin Shihuang and Emperor Hanwudi sent messengers across the
seas in search of these wonderful pills, but the messengers never returned. Then they dug
a large pool and piled up three earth islands in it to imitate the circumstances described in
the legend.

From then an, almost every emperor during the succeeding dynasties would build a royal garden with one-pool-with-three-hills layout as a
fairyland near his palace.

Beihai Park is composed of Tuancheng, Qionghua Islet, Eastern Shore Scenic Area and Northwestern Shore Scenic Area, with Qionghua Islet as
the center. In the middle of the lake and on the central axis of the whole park lies the Jade Flowery Islet, topped by the imposing White Dagoba
which is the landmark of Beihai Park.

There are many famous and beautiful places you should not miss when touring Beihai Park. Such as
Hao Pu Creek Garden, Quiet Heart Studio, Nine-Dragon Screen, Five-Dragon Pavilions and so on.