Beihai Park
Address: Wenjin Jie (Front Gate), Di’anmen Xi Dajie (Rear Gate);
Entry ticket: 5 yuan (slow seasons), 10 yuan (busy season);
Tel: 8610-64071415, 64031102.
Beihai Park, situated northwest of the Forbidden City dates from the 10th century and was built as a pleasure garden for China’s court. The park was once part of the Forbidden City built was opened to the public in 1925.Qiongdao (Jade) Island is set at the southern end of the large lake and can be reached by bridge from the East and South Gates or by pleasure boats from the edges of the lake. Qiongdao Island contains the 36m-tall brick and stone White Dagoba (Pagoda) Temple (Bai Ta). The pagoda has been destroyed and rebuilt in a number of earthquakes over time and the latest building dates from 1976, though the original was first built in 1651. The pagoda supposedly holds the relics and ashes of Buddhist monks.
