BEIHAI PARK, Tour Part 2

This marvelous park offers you the opportunity to admire numerous fine gardens, such as Hao Pu Creek Garden.

Created in 1757 by Emperor Qianlong, this is one of the finest gardens in China. 'Hao' and 'Pu' were the names of two ancient Chinese rivers, and this romantic garden was designed to appear like a deep valley with rivers running through it, crossed by large and small bridges.

Another attractive garden is the nearby Quiet Heart Studio, created during the Ming dynasty and later expanded. This garden is home to many magnificent palaces, pavilions, towers, halls, artificial hills and numerous artistically arranged stones.  

A magnificent work you really mustn’t miss is the famous Nine Dragon Screen, the only one in China depicting nine huge dragons on both sides. Built in 1756, it is about 27 meters long and more than 6 meters high, and is made up of 424 glazed tiles in seven colors, portraying nine massive dragons and many other dragons of various sizes, for a total of 635 figures. Although it is about 200 years old, its splendor remains untarnished.

I also suggest you visit the Five Dragon Pavilions, with spires and upswept eaves that from a distance resemble a huge dragon. They were built in 1602, but repaired several times during the Qing dynasty....