The
Fragrant Hills Park (Xiangshan gongyuan) is located
20 kilometers northwest of Beijing and not far from
the Summer Palace. The name of the park derives not
from the fresh air or aroma in the area, but in the
shape of the hills themselves. If you look close enough
(and with a bit of imagination thrown in) you can
just make out the shape of an incense burner at the
peak of the hills.
The
Fragrant Hills Park is also known as the Garden of
Congenial Tranquility. However it is generally pretty
busy here unless you escape the crowds and head into
the woods. Take a chair-lift or hike up the peak itself
for great views of the surrounding countryside. Once
you reach "Incense burner peak" and, if
you are felling fit and brave, head off on some of
the marked trails and delve into the woodlands.
The
hills and woods were a favorite country retreat of
the emperors. The building of Temples b egan here in
the Jin Dynasty (1186 A.D.) and by the Qing Dynasty,
(1745 A.D.) 28 had been erected in the Garden of Congenial
Tranquility. In 1860 and again in 1900, the Garden
was seriously destroyed by fire and many of the temples
and halls ruined. Today, only some of the buildings
have been restored. When the Central Committee of
the Communist Party moved to Beijing from Hubei, Mao
made Double Purity Villa his residence here. Inside
the Villa are various displays and cultural relics.
However, it's the views of the countryside which are
the most attractive thing about the Park. From Ghost
Fear peak on a fine day, (Ghosts apparently fear heights
!) one can see the Yongding River, Luding Bridge,
Prospect Hills, Summer Palace, Yuquan Hill and the
outskirts of the city.
In
autumn, the red leaves decorating the trees on the
hillside add an extra special glow to the area.In
fact, many Beijingers come here every year to collect
red maple leaves (see the picture above) which they
believe are auspicious (red is a symbol of good luck
and happiness).
Another
one of the Park's attractions are the donkey rides!
Not for the faint hearted!
Open
from 6 am to 7 pm, every day.
How to get there: bus No. 333, 360 or 318. |
