Zhongshan
Park (Zhongshan gongyuan), was originally called the
"Sheji Altar". While the emperor traditionally visited
Tiantan to worship the gods in heaven, it was the
"Sheji Altar" that he trekked to when he needed to
offer sacrifices to the God of Earth and the God of
Grain. The Altar was renamed in 1928, becoming the
more accessible, Zhongshan Park. In 1949, large-scale
development took place in the park and landscape architects
added flowering trees, plants and artificial hills
to the site. Five different colors and types of earth
are still kept in an Altar in the park. The five colors
represent land from throughout the whole nation which
would have traditionally belonged to the emperor.
The park includes Bai Dian Zhongshan hall, Peace Keeping
Hall, cypress woods, a pavilion on the water, and
an eight corner pavilion. |