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Zhongshan Park
 The Zhongshan Park is situated to the west of Tiananmen
Gate. In the Liao Dynasty, the Park used to be the site of Xingguosi
(Temple of National Revival). During the year of the Emperor Yongle's
reign (1421) in the Ming Dynasty, an altar was erected for the
emperors to offer sacrifices to the gods of land and grains. In 1914,
it was converted into the Central Park and in 1928, assumed the
present name: the Zhongshan Park, in memory of Dr. Sun Yatsen.
Covering an area of 240,000 square meters, the Park
comprises the Altar, the Zhongshan Hall, the Concert Hall, Xiliting
(Pavilion for Rehearsing Rites), Lantingbei (Steles of the Orchard
Pavilion), Tanghuawu and 307- bay Long Corridor.
The Altar, the main structure of the Park is a 3-tier
square terrace of white marbles, symbolizing the Square Earth? The top
tier is covered with earth in five different colors (yellow, blue,
red, white, and black), which was a tribute from all over the country.
Symbolic of both the feudal dictum-all land under the
Heaven belongs to the Emperor and the five elements (gold, wood,
water, fire, and earth), which make up all things.
North of the Altar is the Znongshan Hall with the
single-sided sloping roof and yellow glazed tiles constructed in the
reign of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty to provide shelter from
wind and rain for the emperors on their way to perform sacrificial
rites. In 1925, when Dr. Sun Yatsen passed away, the Hall was used to
keep his coffin before burial and in 1928, it was renamed the
Sunzhongshan Memorial Hall.
The Park is well-known for its ancient cypresses. The
rockeries from lakes in various parts of the country and historical
relics also add beauty to the Park.
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