The climb up tothe Top of Jingshan can be done via several routes. One can take the easier way up along the east or west ridge of the Hill, or one can take the fast route directly to the Top. The steeper route leads quite the way up a small and winding path between scrub, rocks and Trees. A short but stiff Hike.
The Jing Shan is the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sun in late summer , enjoy the view of the Gugong, and relax from the noise and bustle of the rapidly modernizing City.
Jingshan is known as Prospect Hill for a Good reason!
The Pavilions atop Jingshan are great places to sit down and relax, while
Emerging next is the route up the ridge of the Hill to the Eastern Guan Miao Pavilion, a lesser one, giving your First treat of the full Skyline of both Imperial Palace (Museum)
and Beijing City.
The Jingshan Pavilions are now deserted and empty.
This has not always been the case. In earlier days all Jingshan Pagodas housed magnificient Ritual Buddhas considered to be the Private Property and Pride of the Emperor himself.
Unfortunatly they were all looted when the so called "European Allies" pillaged Beijing in 1900 AD, near the final end of the Ching Dynasty. During this period, dubbed the Boxer War, the Old Summer Palace was
The middle pavilion on the Eastern Ridge - the Guan Miao Pavilion.
burned down and the Imperial Palace looted.
Around 1420 AD , when the Ancient Imperial City of Beijing was built according to a Feng Shui-inspired architectural plan both the Jing Shan and early Imperial Palace (Gugong) took their first shapes.
The earth and debris excavated from the building site of the then new Imperial Palace of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was dumped here to form the Coal Hill (Jing Shan).
During the entire Ming Dynasty the Jing Shan , the Hill-Top at WanChun Pavilion, would remain the Highest Point of Beijing.
During its History , probably when the Palace was expanded as it was several times, the Jing Shan has grown several Times.
Later, the 5 pavilions on the Ridge of the Hill were added.
From West to East - Fulan , JiFang, WanChun,Guan Miao and Zhou Shang Pavilions.
Looking South , between the Trees the skyline of the Ancient Imperial Palace. Now a United Nations World Heritage Site with the largest collection of ancient wooden structures preserved.
When moving upto WanChung Pavilion the Northern Skyline of Beijing is also revealed. Down below , the northern half of Jingshan Park becomes visible behind the Prospect Hill Mount.
In the distance newer Beijing skyline of Haidian District intermixes with Dongcheng Districts more traditional looks in front. The Drum Tower ( Gu Lou ) is another of Beijing's famous Landmarks and the site of much Buddhist ritual at the New Years festival.
A View up the Eastern Ridge of Jingshan with the roof of the Wanchun Pavilion, the Pavilion of 10.000 (or Everlasting) Springs.
The Pavilion of 10.000 (or Everlasting) Springs and its grandiose staircase.
The Three Tiered Roof of the Pavilion of 10.000 Springs and its colorful decorations and ceramic tiles.
Squinting Eyes against the Southern Sun, the overview of the Palace Museum, The North Gate and the Moat below.
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Find the small path hidden right and behind the QiWang Tower Tea House and start your climb uphill.
From the Trees and Peonies below the path makes a steep climb, soon to get a first glimpse and hint of the Palace Museum Panorama through the dense trees and brush.
Follow the steep Path up the Hill.
Continue along the Path to Zhou Shang Pavilion, perched atop the Eastern Ridge of the Jing Shan. This Pavilion, a bit smaller and at a lower point than the Main Wan Chun Pavilion gives a first breath-taking view of the Beijing City-scape and an opportunity to sit down and look. Looking South lies the Imperial Palace and beyond stretches the immense City and many Hutong.
Just a little further up the Hill where the path flattens out comes the first breath-taking view and photo opportunity, a full panoramic overview of the Palace and central Beijing. One could spend a considerable Time here just overviewing the magnificent architecture of this near mythical
Palace, if it weren't for the promise of an even beter vantage point at the Top.
Local Citizens enjoy some winter sunlight and the splendid view of the Palace Museum and Central City from Zhou Shang Pavilion at Jingshan.
enjoying a book reading about grand reading about grand histories of the Palace and the City.
The bright colors of the Jingshan Pavilion amidst rockeries at the top of Jingshan in Beijing.
