Zhongshan Park is located west of Tiananmen Square and its entire area covers 22.5 hectares. It was originally named Xingguo Temple (Prosperous Country Temple) during the Liao and Jin Dynasties (in ancient China) and changed its name to Wanshouxingguo Temple (Longevity Prosperous Country Temple). In 1421 (the 19th year of Emperor Yongle’s reign) when Zhu Di (Emperor Yongle and the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty) was building the palaces in Beijing, he changed the temple into Sheji (representing the country and its territory) Altar according to the tradition that the ancestors’ temple should stand on the right and the Sheji Altar on the left. This temple then turned into a place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped the Earth God and the Grain God. In 1941, it became the central park. After Mr. Sun Yat-sen died, his casket was laid inside this park. To commemorate Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the then mayor of Beijing and other patriots changed this name toZhongshan Park(Zhongshan is the Chinese expression of Yat-sen).
Entering from the south gate through a lobby and a winding colorful passage, you will encounter a white marble shifang with a blue glazed roof. Watching the north, you will find a vast area of ancient cypress trees, most of which were planted during the Ming Dynasty. Amongst them seven are towering trees which can only be encircled by three or four people. Different shapes of ancient cypress trees are said to be planted during the Liao Dynasty and have been over 1,000 years old until today.
As soon as you enter the altar gate, what you see first is a green avenue, surrounded by fruit trees. The main building of the park Sheji Altar is located in the center of the axis (of the park), and is a square—a three-story platform made of white marble. On the altar are the soils of five colors from different parts of China: yellow, blue-green, red, white and black, which meant that the entire country belonged to the emperors of China (in ancient times) and symbolized the five elements of nature—earth, wood, fire, gold and water.
In 1925, the casket of Mr. Sun Yat-sen was once laid in the Worshipping Hall and worshipped and mourned by people from around the world. In 1928, the mayor of Beijing and other patriots changed this hall to Zhongshan Hall. Inside the hall at the back door stood 72 iron Ji (戟) originally and thus the door was called Ji Door. During the time when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, they took away these iron Ji. To the south of the Sheji Altar are attached the Shenchu, Shenku, Zaisheng Pavilion and other buildings.
To the east of the Sheji Altar there is a quiet space called Everlasting Garden, where there are rockeries, flower sheds, flower gardens and miniature trees. Among the green trees are dotted different attractions too. The Tanghua House standing to the west is a place in which all varieties of flowers are nurtured, and visitors can view colorful flowers in all seasons all year round. Besides such attractions, there are other kinds of wonderful buildings as well.
