北京名胜古迹介绍及图片

北京名胜古迹介绍及图片(英文版)

Beijing's Famous Historical Pictures

Temple of Heaven

Within Beijing's Tiantan Park is the Temple of Heaven, a "cult building" symbolizing the relationship bet ween heaven and earth, which has become one of China's most famous and important temples. Ming a nd Qing dynasty emperors came to the Temple of Heaven twice each year to pray for good harvests. The Temple of Heaven is enclosed behind the walled 667 acre Tiantan Park, to the south of the Forbidd en City. The Temple of Heaven complex was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1998.

Temple of Heaven - Looking North from the South Chengzhen Gate

Temple of Heaven Layout & Design

All of the structures in the temple complex are aligned on a north-south central axis, flanked by buildings to the east and west. The temple complex was constructed according to the dictates of feng shui, and in accordance with the ancient religious practices used in Nanjing, the historic capital of China.

The round northern section of the temple represents heaven, with the Qiniandian or "Hall of Prayer for G ood Harvests" and its three concentric circular roofs as the focal point. The 'Hall of Prayer' temple sits at op a three-tiered marble balustrade decorated with dragon, phoenix, and cloud motifs.

The Huangqiongyu "Imperial Vault of Heaven," with the Qiniandian in the background

As with most Chinese temples and palaces, the emperor would always enter the Temple of Heaven com plex from the southern-most Zhaoheng Gate.

Qiniandian "Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests"

The Qiniandian was originally constructed in 1420, during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dyna sty. The original Qiniandian Hall of Prayer was made entirely of wood, destroyed by fire in 1889, and su bsequently rebuilt. Post and beam construction was used in both versions, and all joints were mortised t ogether without the use of fasteners or nails.

Eastern "Long Corridor" entrance to the "Hall of Prayer for Goo d Harvests"

The "Long Corridor" to the east of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (photo, above) was used to c arry slaughtered sacrificial animals from the "Divine Kitchen and Butcher House" to the temple alter. The covered walkway was designed to protect the sacrifice from being "stained" by the elements.

Qiniandian interior and plan drawings

Mathmatics and seasonal or celestial calculations play a major role in the design of the Qiniandian, with its roof of three concentric circles being supported by four massive wood columns that symbolize th e four seasons. Other aspects of the building's design equate to the twelve months of the year and twelv e hours in a day.

Temple of Heaven - West Celestial Gate

South of the Qiniandian, through the Chengzhen Gate, is the Huangqiongyu or "Imperial Vault of He aven." The Huangqiongyu was originally constructed in 1530, and rebuilt 1572. This area also contains t he "Echo Wall" and Triple Sound Stones, with their peculiar acoustical qualities.

Locals gather in the "Long Corridor" to play music or games

Further to the south is the "Circular Mound Alter" that is contained in a square area representing ear th. This alter was built in 1530 by Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty. The Circular Mound Alter was us ed to worship heaven each year on the winter solstice.

The "Hall of Prayer" balustrade - Looking south towards the Im perial Vault of Heaven

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Temple of Heaven complex was refurbished and enlarge d to make it more pure and holy than before.

Temple of Heaven - Looking West at Sunset

The Summer Palace

Beijing's Yihe Yuan 'Summer Palace'

The Summer Palace (aka Yihe Yuan or "Garden of Clear Ripples"), originally constructed in 1750, was built by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday. During subse quent regimes the palace was used as a "pleasure garden" to escape the summer heat i n Beijing.

The Summer Palace is located northwest of Beijing, around the man-made Kunming Lake. The lake covers approximately three-quarters of the 290 hectare Palace grounds. T here are three man-made islands on the lake that are meant to imitate the three celestial islands of the East China Sea.

Foxiang Ge 'Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha' atop Longevity Hill on Kunming Lake

Kunming Lake's causeway was designed to emulate the West Lake "Su causeway" in Ha ngzhou The "Seventeen Arch Bridge" to the south-east of Kunming Lake links the "East Dyke" with South Lake Island.

Longevity Hill

The Foxiang Ge Tower, also known as the "Tower of Buddhist Incense," or "Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha" is one of the most recognizable temples in China, and is a sym bol of dynastic power in ancient China. The tower sits atop Longevity Hill, where the first " Gold Mountain Palace" was built by Emperor Wanyan Liang during the Jin Dynasty (1115 to 1234).

Stairway to the Foxiang Ge Tower

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368), Longevity Hill was renamed Weng Shan, m eaning "Jug Hill," for a jug filled with gold that was supposedly found on the hill.

View of the 'Revolving Archives'

The Empress Dowager Cixi, aka "Dragon Lady"

In 1886, the Summer Palace was extensively remodeled and improved under the reign of the infamous Dragon Lady, also known as the Empress Dowager Cixi (1835 to 1908), w ho was the de-facto ruler of China (the "power behind the throne," "screen" or "curtain") d uring the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911).

View of Kunming Lake and the 'Seventeen Arch Bridge' from Foxiang Ge Tower - Zoom Cixi was buried at the Eastern Qing Tombs in Hebei Province, east of Beijing. As was cus tomary for the times, a giant Pearl the size of a "robin's egg" was placed in the Empress Dowager's mouth to protect her corpse from decomposition. In 1928 her tomb was ransa cked by Sun Dianying, a Kuomintang warlord. Cixi's body was desecrated, and it is rumor ed that some of her stolen jewels and her crown were given to Kuomintang leader Chian g Kai-shek who gifted them to his wife, Soong May-ling.

The "Long Corridor"

The 728 meter "Long Corridor" runs along the shore of Kunming Lake, from Foxiang Ge T ower to the Marble Boat. With its 14,000 ceiling paintings, the Long Corridor is considere d one of the longest painted galleries in the world.

The 728 meter 'Long Corridor' and one of its 14,000 ceiling paintings

In 1750, the Long Corridor was added to the Summer Palace by Emperor Qianlong s o that his mother could enjoy the gardens without fear of the elements.

Long Corridor ceiling paintings

Marble Boat

The Summer Palace's "Marble Boat," also known as the "Clear and Peaceful Boat" was b uilt in 1755 as a symbol of stability for the empire of the Qing Dynasty. The boat was built with the idea that "Water can carry a boat, and it can capsize a boat," meaning that the Qi ng empire would never be toppled.

The Marble Boat

Both the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace (Yuan Ming Yuan), which was kno wn as the "Gardens of Perfect Brightness," were destroyed during the Anglo-French inva sion in 1860.

Rebuilding Yihe Yuan

The palace was rebuilt in 1886, and in 1888 the Summer Palace was renamed Yihe Yuan , meaning "Garden of Nurtured Harmony." Unfortunately, the harmony did not last long, a nd the palace suffered another devastating attack during "Boxer Rebellion" in 1900. Yihe Yuan was again rebuilt in 1902.

The 41 meter high Foxiang Ge Tower

Water Calligraphy (left) Bridge of Banana Plant (right)

View of Yu Quan Hill and the Yu Feng Pagoda (center of photo)

The Summer Palace was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1998. Dingling Ming Tombs

Beijing's Dingling Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs are located sixty kilometers northwest of Beijing in the Tianshou Mounta ins, near one of the restored sections of the Great Wall. Dingling is the burial grounds for thirteen of sixteen Ming Emperors spanning the 15th and 16th century.

The entire Ming necropolis covers over 40 acres, and is approached via the 'Sacred Way, ' which is a long colonnade lined with stone statuary of animals and dignitaries.

Dingling Tomb - Looking at the 'Hall of Eminent Favour'

Zhu Di, known as the third Ming Emperor or the Yongle Emperor, was the first Ming E mperor to be buried at the Dingling in 1424. Zhu Di's mausoleum is called the Changling. The necropolis is also the final resting place for several of the Zhu Di's concubines and E mpresses, some of which were buried alive to accompany the Emperor on his journey int o the afterlife. The practice of entombing living concubines was abolished during the reig n of the Zhengtong Emperor in the mid 1400s.

Dingling's Main Hall (left), Chang-Ling Tomb (right)

Zhu Di, the emperor responsible for building the Forbidden City occupies the largest ma usoleum at the necropolis, which took 18 years to complete.

The nephew of Zhu Di was the second Ming Emperor, but after fleeing from the empire, h e was never heard from again. There is no official record of his final resting place.

The 'Soul Tower' of Dingling (left)

The Dingling necropolis was completed in 1581, before the death of the Wanli Emper or, and thirteenth Ming ruler, Zhu Yijun. To commemorate its completion, Zhu Yijun held a feast at the complex to celebrate his upcoming internment.

Excavation of the Dingling Mausoleum

The only tomb to have been excavated at the necropolis was Dingling, or the 'T omb of Certainty,' which was occupied by Zhu Yijun, who died in 1619. His tomb was uncovere d in in 1956, after the discovery of a stone tablet with instructions to the location of the to mb.

The Ming Emperor Zhu Yijun's Crown

Although he ruled for over 40 years, Zhu Yijun was considered one of the most inept and/or corrupt emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

Dingling Ming Tomb Jewelry Collection

Zhu Yijun was originally entombed with his one and only Empress. Later, one of his c oncubines, Xiaojing, was elevated to Empress posthumously by her grandson and re-buri ed with the Emperor.

The first Ming Dynasty Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, was not buried at Dingling, but in Nanji ng. There are three tombs which are opened to the public: the Wanli Emperor's tomb Din gling, the Yongle Emperor tomb, Changling, and the Longqing Emperor's tomb, Zhaoling.

Zhaoling belonged to the 12th Ming Emperor, Zhu Daicheng, who was buried in 1572 wit h three of his Empresses. Zhu Daicheng, who was known as the Longqing Emperor, reig ned for only six years. The Zhaoling mausoleum was the first tomb to be fully restored to i ts original condition.

Lama T emple

Beijing's Yonghe Gong 'Lama Temple'

The Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Gong Palace, Palace of Peace an d Harmony or Yong Hegong Lamasery, was constructed during the Qing Dynasty i n 1694. The palace was the home of Prince Yin Zhen, who was a son of Qing Dynas ty Emperor Kang Xi.

The Yonghe Gong Lama Temple is located in the Dongcheng District, off of Yanghe gong Street east of the Gulou Hutongs. During the off-hours, the temple has a sere ne atmosphere, with the smell of incense permeating through the air and the distan t sound of monks chanting.

When Prince Yin Zhen took the throne, the palace was divided into two parts. Half o f the residence was converted into a Buddhist 'lamasery,' and half remained the Im perial Palace. Prince Yin Zhen changed his name to Yong Zhen after being crowne d as Emperor in 1725, and his palace was thereafter referred to as the Yonghe Pala ce.

The Yonghe Gong is a 'Yellow Hat' Tibetan Lamasery - one of the most famous Tibe tan Buddhist temples outside of Tibet itself, and the largest in the city of Beijing. T he 'Yellow Hat Sect' is part of the Geluk or Gelug school of Buddhism founded by T songkhapa in the 1400s.

Yong He Gong Temple Architecture

The palace was laid out and constructed in the same manner as the Forbidden City, with the entrance on the south side, and the main buildings aligned along a n orth-south central axis. The T emple's ornate architecture is an eclectic mix represe nting the Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan building styles.

The Yonghe Gong temple was declared a major historical relic of national significa nce in 1949, but was none the lest closed under Mao Zedong in the 1950s. The Lam

a Temple was reopened in 1981, and Buddhists from around China come to pray an d pay homage to the successive incarnations of the Dalai Lama.

Hand-painted Tibetan pray er scrolls called "tanka" line many of the walls, which fe ature elaborately carved gold-covered Buddhas and portraits of the many Dalai La mas.

In the main hall, there is a sixty foot (18 meter) tall Buddha statue that was carved out of a single piece of white sandalwood. This one of the Lama T emple's "three m atchless treasures."

Lama Temple's South Entrance (left), Big Buddha (right)

Unfortunatly, the serenity of the Yonghe Gong T emple belies the controversial state of affairs between China and the Dalai Lama's exiled government. When visiti ng a site such as this, one must remember that China is still a controlled society wi th an "officially sanctioned" media. As such, the underlying controversy surroundi ng certain historical locations is "masked" under a blanket of soothing and happy-sounding dogma that only tells half of the story.

Tian'anmen Square

Beijing's Tiananmen Square

Tian'anmen Square is etched into the memories of most Americans as a result of t he iconic photograph from 1989 of the lone man (aka "tank Man" or Wang Weilin) w ho stood down the Chinese People's Liberation Army's tanks during a student prot est for increased political freedoms. Those photos, by AP journalist Jeff Widener a nd Stuart Franklin of Magnum Photos, did more to change the Chinese government than the government will acknowledge.

During the late 1980s, the Soviet Union's totalitarian regime was collapsing, an d the Chinese PRC (People's Republic of China) leadership under Deng Xiaoping s aw a wave of democracy sweeping across the communist world. Under Deng's wis