- Jingshan
Jingshan (zh-cpl|c=景山|p=Jǐngshān|l=Prospect Hill) is an artifical hill in
Beijing ,China . It is located inXicheng District , immediately north of theForbidden City on the central axis of Beijing. Originally an imperial garden, it is now apublic park , known as Jingshan Park (景山公园).The 45.7-metre high artificial chinese hill was constructed in the
Yongle era of theMing Dynasty entirely from the soil excavated in forming the moats of the Imperial Palace and nearbycanals . It is especially impressive when one considers that all of this material was moved only by manual labor and animal power. Jingshan consists of five individual peaks, and on the top of each peak there lies an elaborate pavilion. These pavilions where used by officals for gathering and leisure purposes. These five peaks also draws the approximate historical axis of central Beijing. According to the dictates ofFeng Shui , it is favorable to site a residence to the south of a nearby hill (and it is also practical, gaining protection from chilly northern winds). The imperial palaces in the other capitals of previous dynasties were situated to the south of a hill. When the capital was moved toBeijing , no such hill existed at this location, so one was constructed. It is popularly known as "Feng Shui Hill". It is also known as Coal Hill, a direct translation of its old popular Chinese name (zh-cp|c=煤山|p=Méishān).The last emperor of the
Ming Dynasty , Chongzhen, committed suicide by hanging himself here in 1644.Jingshan is especially a popular place for elderly people socializing and gathering. One can often find elderly folks dancing, singing opera and doing other cultural activities at Jingshan.
Relationship with the Forbidden City
Jingshan hill is separated from the
Forbidden City by the palace moat. However, until 1928 the park sat directly by the moat and was accessible on the south side only from theForbidden City via theGate of Divine Might . In 1928, a new road (New Jinghshan St) was built to the north of the palace moat. This fully separated Jingshan Hill from theForbidden City . The Gate of Divine Might became the back door of the Palace Museum, and the front gate of Jingshan Park now stood to the north of the new road.The street addresses of both the
Forbidden City and Jingshan Park are on New Jingshan St.Gallery
ee also
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Guilty Chinese Scholartree
*Tourist Attractions of Beijing
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
