Fragrant Hills Park or Xiangshan Park (香山公园) is a public park and former imperial garden at the foot of the Western Hills in the Haidian District, Beijing, China. It was also formerly known as Jingyi Garden or "Jingyiyuan" (靜宜園). It covers 160 ha (395 acres) and consists of a natural pine-cypress forest, hills with maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees, as well as landscaped areas with traditional architecture and cultural relics. The name derives from the highest peak of Fragrant Hills, Xianglu Feng (Incense Burner Peak), a 557-meter (1,827 ft) hill with two large stones resembling incense burners at the top.
Fragrant Hills Pagoda, built in 1780; although foreign forces burned down the surrounding monastery in 1900, the pagoda survived the fires.
The syllable xiang in the Fragrant Hills' Chinese name Xiangshan refers to incense, not fragrance per se. This name is perhaps derived from the name of the highest peak Xianglu Feng (香炉峰, lit.'Incense-burner Peak'). The bronze-cast incense burner (with remote roots in ritual bronzes) being a common article found in temples. Indeed, incense was also often used as a metonym for temples.
Historyedit
The park was built in 1186, during the rule of the Jin dynasty, and was expanded during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. In 1745, the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty ordered the addition of several new halls, pavilions and gardens to the park, renaming it the "Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure". In 1860, British and French forces burnt the Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War, which caused extensive damage to the park. During the Boxer Rebellion, activities by troops of the Eight-Nation Alliance led to further damage to the park. Since 1949, the government of China has been engaged in continuous restoration and development in the area.
The Fragrant Hills park is recognized as one of the major tourist attractions in Beijing. When autumn arrives, the natural scenery in the park turns spectacular, with fiery red smoke tree leaves covering the mountain side. Every year, thousands of tourists ride the cable cars through the park in order see the hills in autumn colors. The grand opening of the annual Red Leaf Festival of Beijing takes place there. There is also the Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by I. M. Pei, which is more traditional than most of his designs.
Routesedit
There are two main routes through the park. One route goes through the north area, with Spectacles Lake (Yanjing Lake) and the bridge, Study of Reading Heart (Jianxin Zhai) and Bright Temple (Zhao Miao). Study of Reading Heart was built in the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644) and is a landscaped park inside Fragrant Hills Park. Bright Temple is a large Tibetan style lamasery complex built in 1780 as the residence for the sixth Panchen Lama during his visits to the Qianlong Emperor. Buildings in the complex have partially been burned down. Among the surviving treasures are a majestic glazed-tiled archway in front of the complex, a terrace and a glazed-tiled pagoda. Bells hung on the eaves of the pagoda chime in breeze.
The second route leads through the south area of the park. Main attractions along the route include Tranquility Green Lake (Jingcui Lake), Shuangqing Villa, Fragrant Temple, and Incense Burner Peak. This route is more difficult because it leads across the highest peak, Incense Burner Peak.
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. Official site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
January 01, 1970
fragrant, hills, park, xiangshan, park, 香山公园, public, park, former, imperial, garden, foot, western, hills, haidian, district, beijing, china, also, formerly, known, jingyi, garden, jingyiyuan, 靜宜園, covers, acres, consists, natural, pine, cypress, forest, hill. Fragrant Hills Park or Xiangshan Park 香山公园 is a public park and former imperial garden at the foot of the Western Hills in the Haidian District Beijing China It was also formerly known as Jingyi Garden or Jingyiyuan 靜宜園 It covers 160 ha 395 acres and consists of a natural pine cypress forest hills with maple trees smoke trees and persimmon trees as well as landscaped areas with traditional architecture and cultural relics The name derives from the highest peak of Fragrant Hills Xianglu Feng Incense Burner Peak a 557 meter 1 827 ft hill with two large stones resembling incense burners at the top Fragrant HillsFragrant Hills Park Xiangshan Park香山公园Palace hall sitting at top of Fragrant HillsFragrant HillsTypeUrban park Forest parkLocationHaidian District Beijing ChinaCoordinates39 59 27 59 N 116 10 46 89 E 39 9909972 N 116 1796917 E 39 9909972 116 1796917Area188 hectaresCreated3rd century in the record 1186 officially built 1441 rebuilt 1956 as public park Owned byBeijing Municipal Administration Center of ParksStatusOpen all year Fragrant HillsSimplified Chinese香山公园Literal meaningFragrant Hills ParkTranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinXiangshan GōngyuanWade GilesHsiang shan Kung yuan Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Routes 4 Transport 5 External linksName edit nbsp Fragrant Hills Pagoda built in 1780 although foreign forces burned down the surrounding monastery in 1900 the pagoda survived the fires nbsp nbsp The syllable xiang in the Fragrant Hills Chinese name Xiangshan refers to incense not fragrance per se This name is perhaps derived from the name of the highest peak Xianglu Feng 香炉峰 lit Incense burner Peak The bronze cast incense burner with remote roots in ritual bronzes being a common article found in temples Indeed incense was also often used as a metonym for temples History editThe park was built in 1186 during the rule of the Jin dynasty and was expanded during the Yuan and Ming dynasties In 1745 the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty ordered the addition of several new halls pavilions and gardens to the park renaming it the Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure In 1860 British and French forces burnt the Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War which caused extensive damage to the park During the Boxer Rebellion activities by troops of the Eight Nation Alliance led to further damage to the park Since 1949 the government of China has been engaged in continuous restoration and development in the area The Fragrant Hills park is recognized as one of the major tourist attractions in Beijing When autumn arrives the natural scenery in the park turns spectacular with fiery red smoke tree leaves covering the mountain side Every year thousands of tourists ride the cable cars through the park in order see the hills in autumn colors The grand opening of the annual Red Leaf Festival of Beijing takes place there There is also the Fragrant Hills Hotel designed by I M Pei which is more traditional than most of his designs Routes editThere are two main routes through the park One route goes through the north area with Spectacles Lake Yanjing Lake and the bridge Study of Reading Heart Jianxin Zhai and Bright Temple Zhao Miao Study of Reading Heart was built in the Ming dynasty 1368 to 1644 and is a landscaped park inside Fragrant Hills Park Bright Temple is a large Tibetan style lamasery complex built in 1780 as the residence for the sixth Panchen Lama during his visits to the Qianlong Emperor Buildings in the complex have partially been burned down Among the surviving treasures are a majestic glazed tiled archway in front of the complex a terrace and a glazed tiled pagoda Bells hung on the eaves of the pagoda chime in breeze The second route leads through the south area of the park Main attractions along the route include Tranquility Green Lake Jingcui Lake Shuangqing Villa Fragrant Temple and Incense Burner Peak This route is more difficult because it leads across the highest peak Incense Burner Peak Another point of interest in the park is the Shuangqing Villa once the residence of Mao Zedong and also an early site for the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party The Temple of Azure Clouds Biyun Si is located just outside the north gate of Fragrant Hills Park Transport editFragrant Hills stationExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fragrant Hills Fragrant Hills Park Official site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fragrant Hills amp oldid 1186559589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
