Taoranting Park
Taoranting Park, situated in the southwest, derives its name from the Joyous Pavilion that once stood on the grounds of the Temple of Mercy (Cibeiyuan).
iang Zao, a secretary in the Ministry of Works, built the pavilion in 1695 during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. So it was also known as Jiang Pavilion. The original pavilion, which was built on a hill, stood higher than the city battlements. For this reason, it was a favorite destination for Beijing residents on the Double Ninth Festival (9th day if the 9th lunar month), when tradition prescribed that one should "ascend to a high place."
In the past, scholars from all over China wrote poems and essays in praise of Taoranting, though in imperial times, the scenery was not particularly attractive. To the north of the pavilion was a residential district of single-story dwellings and to the east a group of desolate tombs. To the south stood the bare city walls and to the west a stretch of shallow water filled with reeds. Houses of ordinary citizens were not permitted to stand at an elevation higher than the emperor' s palace, and apart from the hillock on the Central Island, all the highest points in the city were occupied by the imperial family. This was therefore the only place where the common people could come for a view of the city. As visitors increased, the original small pavilion was demolished to make way for a large building, which in turn was augmented by three buildings still found today inside the Temple of Mercy.
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On the island, a series of steps made of Taihu stones from Jiangsu Province leads to the top of the Glorious Autumn Mound. On the southern slope pf the mound is the site of two tombs, the Fragrant Tomb and Parrot Tomb. The graveyard was originally part of the old Flower Spirit Temple and these two small tombs still have engraved stele standing before them. In the past, several different stories have been attached to the Fragrant Tomb. One relates that after the Manchus took control of Beijing in 1644, the people were forced to change their mode of dress. Adherents of the Ming Dynasty, cherishing the memory of their old rulers, buried their Ming Dynasty garments here in a gesture of loyalty.
To the east of the Glorious Autumn Mound is a small hill formerly called the Kiln Lump (Yaogeda). When the park was formally opened after 1949, the hill was heightened and planted with trees, and a path was built leading to its peak.
Add.: No.19, Taiping St., Xicheng District
Ticket Price: RMB2
Tel: 63511596
Open Hour: 06:00-21:00
How to get there: Take Bus No. 14,40,66,70,102,106, 343,or 613, get off at Taoranqiaobei Stop
Take Bus No.40,59,613, get off at Taoranting Stop
Take Bus No.53,72,84,122,458,692,get off at Taoranting South Gate Stop
Website: http://www.trtpark.com/templet/en/index.jsp
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