ZHONGSHAN PARK

Located west of Tian 'anmen, adjacent to the Forbidden City, is Sun Yat-sen Park (or Zhongshan Park). Formerly, under the Jin, space was occupied by the country's Renaissance Temple, which became under the Yuan the Temple of Longevity and Renaissance of the country, and eventually hosted under the Ming's Altar and Moissons (which can always be visited), before ending as a public garden dedicated to Sun's memory. Yat-sen.

It is in this park that it makes its feet tired by a thorough visit to the Imperial Palace, in the shadow of the great cypress… You will cross as many tourists in this case as Chinese walking walking.

The entrance is made by a large pai-lou, a white marble portico decorated with blue ceramics honoring the memory of German Baron Von Ketteler, murdered during the Boxers revolt in 1900. There will be a beautiful calligraphy of the poet Guo Moruo meaning «Defending peace». A stroll along decorative and cyclose rocks will take you to the center of the park, in front of the altar of the altar of the god of the Earth and the Moissons. Another way leads to the altar, a large square terrace with white stone to symbolize the surface of the earth on which the son of heaven reigns. The terrace itself is divided into five parts each symbolizing a cardinal point (and a season) plus the center associated with the emperor. Each party shall be filled with a different color; red for the south (summer), white for the west (autumn), black for the north (winter), and green for east (spring). The center carries the color of the emperor, yellow. The wall wall of the altar is decorated with glazed tiles that echo the same colors harmoniously.

The emperor made sacrifices twice a year: in the spring, for good crops, and in the fall after thanks.

To the north of the altar is the Prières Hall, which is still used for the funeral ceremonies of important members of the party, and, to the north of this hall, the Hallebardes Hall, which served as a surrender for instruments and objects used during the sacrificial ceremonies.

Do not miss to visit the southwestern part of the park where small pavilions will be admired, including a greenhouse that still serves flower exhibitions and a small lake with its island.