Palace view
From the top.
Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Another Believer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Agencia de Noticias ANDES — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original uploader was 用心阁 at zh.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bjoertvedt — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ·˙·ChinaUli2010·.· — CC BY 3.0
An imperial park of 23 hectares directly north of the Forbidden City, once a private garden attached to the palace and opened to the public in 1928; at its centre rises an artificial hill about 46 m high whose name means «Prospect Hill». Its big draw is the view from the summit pavilion: the whole Forbidden City spreads out before you, its yellow roofs lined up along a single axis to the horizon, the best view of the palace in all of Beijing, especially at sunset. Small pavilions, ancient trees and flower gardens dot the slopes, with peonies blooming in spring, and Beijingers gather here in the mornings to exercise, sing and dance. The entry fee is nominal, per visitor guides, and the climb to the top takes about ten minutes. The best plan is to leave the Forbidden City by its north gate and cross the road straight into the park.
From the top.
In spring.
Exercise and song.
Directly north of the Forbidden City, Beijing
Beihai ParkA former imperial garden north-west of the Forbidden City, first built in the tw8 minutes walk4.6
Forbidden CityThe imperial palace complex in the heart of Beijing, built between 1406 and 142011 minutes walk4.7
NanluoguxiangA narrow historic lane in north-central Beijing about 800 m long, running from G17 minutes walk
Shichahai and the HutongsA lovely historic area in north-central Beijing made up of three linked lakes, Q20 minutes walk
Wangfujing StreetBeijing's best-known shopping street, a broad pedestrian avenue east of the Forb23 minutes walk4.3From the summit pavilion of Jingshan Park, just north of the palace, where the whole Forbidden City spreads out before you, especially at sunset.