[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for The Round City (Updated Feb)

Address: West of Beihai North Gate, Xicheng District, Beijing Opening hours: 8:30–16:30 Tickets: 1 yuan Tuancheng Island is a green pearl inlaid between Beihai Park and Zhongnanhai, known as "the smallest castle in the world," with a history of more than 800 years. The city platform is 4.6 meters above ground level and covers an area of 4,553 square meters. During the Liao Dynasty, it was an island formed by the accumulation of mud in the lake. It was expanded in the Jin Dynasty, and a palace was built. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was enclosed by stone walls and renamed "Yingzhou." During the Ming Dynasty, the palace was rebuilt and renamed Chengguang Hall, and a city wall was built around the island. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong extensively expanded Tuancheng Island, forming its current layout. Enter from the east "Zhaojing Gate," go up the steps, and pass through the "Zhaomen" to reach Tuancheng Island. The central building is Chengguang Hall, with the Yu Weng Pavilion to the south and the Jingji Hall to the north, forming the central axis. On both sides, there are the Gulai Hall, Yuqingzhai, and the east and west side halls, symmetrically arranged, giving a sense of completeness despite its small size. There are three treasures here: the Jade Urn, the White Jade Buddha, and ancient trees. The Jade Urn, "Dushan Dayuhai," was made during the Mongol Empire, and legend has it that Kublai Khan used it to hold wine for banquets with his officials. The east and west side halls provide detailed explanations of the history and cultural background of the Jade Urn. The White Jade Buddha, enshrined in Chengguang Hall, is 1.5 meters high and carved from a single piece of white jade, flawless and pure. There is a noticeable knife mark on the left arm, a scar from the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900. There are more than ten ancient trees over 300 years old, including the "Zheyin Hou" oil pine and the "White-robed General" white-bark pine, both over 800 years old, now tall and lush. The 270-meter-long city wall of this castle has no drainage outlets, and there are no drainage ditches on the ground. No matter how heavy the rain, the ground dries quickly after the rain. Where does the rainwater on Tuancheng Island go? Haha, interested friends can look up the rainwater drainage system of Tuancheng Island. The wisdom of the ancients is truly amazing.

When visiting Beihai Park, I often climb the winding stone steps to visit Tuancheng. My favorite is the two white pines named "White Robe General." The trunks of the white pines are more than 5 meters in circumference, like two mighty generals guarding the front and back of the Chengguang Hall. They were named "White Robe General" by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. In spring and summer, the bark of the white pines is shiny, lush, and full of vitality. There are 17 ancient trees over 300 years old in Tuancheng. In addition to the "White Robe General," there are also the "Shady Marquis" oil pine and the "Sea Exploring Marquis" ancient pine planted in the Jin Dynasty. Other main attractions in Tuancheng include the magnificent Chengguang Hall, which houses a white jade Buddha. The ink jade urn in the Jade Urn Pavilion was carved in the Yuan Dynasty (1265 AD), with dragons, sea horses, colorful clouds, and other patterns carved around it. During the Spring Festival, the red lanterns decorating Tuancheng bring a festive atmosphere. Visitors flock to touch the mottled city walls, admire the exquisite ancient buildings, and look up at the tall white pines, marveling at the profound historical and cultural heritage contained in this small garden. Tuancheng is next to the south gate of Beihai Park. It opens at 8 am, and no reservation or ticket is required.

Beihai Park, the oldest royal garden in Beijing, not only has a history of over 850 years but also stands out for its adherence to the 'one pond, three hills' garden structure of Chinese imperial gardens, which has been preserved to this day. Therefore, when visiting Beihai Park, seeing the 'one pond, three hills' is a must. During the Liao and Jin dynasties, the royal garden pattern of 'one pond, three hills' began to take shape. 'One pond' refers to what is now known as 'Beihai, Zhonghai, and Nanhai'; 'three hills' refers to Tuan City, Qionghua Island, and Ying Tai, which is located in Zhongnanhai, and can be seen by visitors as soon as they enter the park from the south gate. The artistic creation of 'one pond, three hills' comes from the paradise described in the ancient mythological story 'The Legend of the Western Queen Mother'. It is said that there are three immortal mountains to the east of the Bohai Sea, named 'Penglai', 'Yingzhou', and 'Fangzhang', where immortals live and possess the elixir of life. During the Qin dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang sent Xu Fu with children to search for these 'immortal mountains' across the sea to find the elixir of life. After failing, he built a hundred-mile-long pond in Lan Chi Palace and piled up earth to form Penglai Mountain. In the Han dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han still could not find the immortal mountains, so he ordered a large pond to be dug behind the Jianzhang Palace, named 'Taiye Pool', and piled up three hills in the pond to symbolize the three immortal mountains of Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang. Today, we can visit the green waters of the pond in Beihai Park, which accounts for about 56% of the total area of the park, and take a closer look at the Tuan City and Qionghua Island landscapes outside the south gate. Tuan City was originally an island in the middle of the lake formed by the accumulation of mud from the excavation of the lake, known as 'Yuan Di'. During the Jin dynasty, a temple was built here. In the Yuan dynasty, a stone wall was erected, and 'Yuan Di' was changed to 'Yuan Cheng'. In the Ming dynasty, the stone wall was replaced with a city wall, and the temple was given its current name: Chengguang Hall. 'Yuan Cheng' was also changed to 'Tuan Cheng'. During the Qing dynasty, two major expansions during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong formed the current layout, and this small city with regular city walls became a miniature landscape in the royal garden. Its three main attractions are: the ancient Chengguang Hall and the white jade Sakyamuni sitting statue enshrined within; the Yuan dynasty jade carving masterpiece, the Jade Vase, in front of Chengguang Hall; and the ancient trees 'Zhe Yin Hou' and 'Bai Pao Jiang Jun' with lush foliage. Qionghua Island is the biggest highlight of Beihai Park and the most dazzling part of the ancient garden architecture. It is a key area worth taking the time to explore in detail. Its main attractions include: the Tibetan-style White Pagoda located at the highest point of Qionghua Island and the Shanyin Hall in front of the pagoda; Yong'an Temple at the southern end of Qionghua Island; the Yue Xin Hall, Qing Xiao Lou, and Yue Gu Lou at the western end; and the stone stele inscribed with 'Qiong Dao Chun Yin' by Emperor Qianlong himself at the eastern end. The northern end of Qionghua Island was originally occupied by the Yilan Hall restaurant, which has been opened to the public after being vacated and renovated, and is also one of the ancient building clusters in Beihai Park that reflects the characteristics of Chinese classical garden construction. Ying Tai is located in Zhongnanhai, and from the city tower of Tuan City, one can look far into the distance. Warm tips: Tuan City ticket: 1 yuan/person, half price for students, free for people over 60 years old. Qiong Island scenic area cultural relics exhibition ticket: 10 yuan/person (including White Pagoda, Yong'an Temple, Yilan Hall), free for people over 60 years old.

"A single flower does not make a spring, but when all flowers bloom together, the garden is filled with spring." Spring is the season when all things come back to life, and appreciating flowers is one of the most pleasant aspects of life. The Three Whites of Tuancheng in Beihai are not only a visual feast but also a spiritual purification. The lilacs, crabapples, and pear blossoms within Beijing's Tuancheng are in full bloom (the crabapples are almost over), and because the flowers of these three ancient trees are all white, they are known as the "Three Whites of Tuancheng." Located behind the Chengguang Hall. Tuancheng tickets are 1 yuan, and annual passes cannot be used. Ticket checking stops at 17:30, and the gates close at 18:00. You can walk from Shenwumen to the west, or take Line 6 to the North Gate of Beihai Park, go through the South Gate to Tuancheng. The Three Treasures of Tuancheng: 1️⃣ The White Jade Buddha, enshrined in the center of Chengguang Hall, is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha carved from a single block of Burmese white jade. It is 1.5 meters tall and weighs over 2,400 kilograms, with many red and green gemstones inlaid on the top of the head and the lapels. During the Guangxu period, it was brought from Burma by the monk Mingkuan through alms. 2️⃣ The Great Jade Sea of Dushan, oval-shaped, with cloud dragons, sea pigs, seahorses, sea deer, and other 13 types of sea creatures carved around it. It was completed in December of the second year of the Yuan Dynasty (1265). Kublai Khan decreed that it be placed in the Guanghan Hall on Qionghua Island. In the seventh year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1579), the Guanghan Hall collapsed due to disrepair, but the Great Jade Sea was fortunately preserved. It ended up outside the Zhenwu Temple near Xihuamen. During the Qianlong period, it was redeemed by Sanhe, the Vice Minister of Works, and presented to Emperor Qianlong. The emperor placed the jade vessel in Tuancheng and built a beautiful glazed pavilion to protect it. 3️⃣ The third treasure, the "White Robed General" and the "Shade Marquis." At the entrance of Tuancheng stands a white pine planted during the Jin Dynasty, tall and straight with a snow-white body, resembling a commanding general at the door. Therefore, Emperor Qianlong conferred the title of "White Robed General" on this ancient pine and composed a poem for it. The Shade Marquis is a pine planted during the Jin Dynasty, with branches and leaves resembling a large umbrella. Emperor Qianlong liked to have a dragon table set up under this tree in summer, where he would compose poetry, paint, and enjoy the scenery. Following the example of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who conferred titles on the Five Great Pine Trees, he also conferred the title of Shade Marquis on this tree.

Beihai Park's White Pagoda with peach blossoms and willows along the shore, truly signifies the harmony of spring. I still remember the children's song: Let us row the oars, the little boat pushes through the waves The sea reflects the beautiful White Pagoda, surrounded by green trees and red walls In reality, Beihai Park, with the White Pagoda, peach blossoms, spring water, and willow shores Is just as beautifully enchanting as depicted in the song Beihai Park is vast, winding around the entire park Climbing the White Pagoda takes about 3-4 hours It's an excellent place to spend the weekend and clear your mind The White Pagoda, built in the early Qing Dynasty in the eighth year of Shunzhi (1651) Is 35.9 meters high, a Tibetan-style Lama Pagoda In the sunny March, the White Pagoda with green willows and peach blossoms is extremely beautiful! 📝 Practical tips 📌 Address: No.1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 🚘 Transportation: By car, only the south gate has a parking lot, take subway line 6 to Beihai North Station, or take buses 13, 42, 107, 111, 118, 810, 701, 823 to the back gate of Beihai 💰 Admission: Online reservation, multiple time slots available, scan to enter, no ticket needed, remember to swipe your ID card ⏰ Opening hours: 6:30-20:00 (January-March, November-December) 6:00-21:00 (April-May, September-October) 6:00-22:00 (June-August) 🔍 Tour route: Tuancheng - Puan Hall, Yue Xin Hall, White Pagoda, Jingxin Studio, Nine Dragon Wall, Five Dragon Pavilion, Xiaoxitian, West Bank viewing Qiong Island 💬 Tickets: It is recommended to buy a ¥15 combo ticket, which allows you to climb the White Pagoda ⚠️ Note: Friends who have purchased the park's annual pass can enter directly, if you want to take pictures of the White Pagoda with peach blossoms, you can buy a ticket at the entrance of the White Pagoda 📸 Photography tips: ▪️ If you want to take pictures of the White Pagoda with peach blossoms, it is recommended to wear white/light-colored outfits for a more spring-like atmosphere ▪️ For color grading, it is suggested to use a fresh cream color scheme as the main, reduce contrast to enhance shadows and highlights, making the overall look more translucent and glossy ▪️ If it's windy and crowded, consider shooting on weekdays or start early on weekends