Round City

Located west of the south gate of Beihai (North Sea) Park, Round City, also called Yingzhou or Yuan City, is of a circular castle-like structure with city wall, palaces halls, pavilions and rooms furnished. It is a smallest city in China with various functions of a city available. As one part of Beihai Park, and also an independeni small garden of unique style, Round City, North Sea, Central Sea and South Sea jointly constitute the most beautiful scene in the city proper of Beijing.

Round City, previously, was a tiny island in the North Sea (Taiyechi). The tiny island, just implying Yingzhou (one of three hills of immortal in East Sea), has the same history with North Sea, Central Sea and South Sea. Form the 3rd year to 19th year during the reign of Da Ding of the Jin Dynasty (1163 to 1179), Emperor Shi Zhong of the Jin Dynasty ordered to build a hall on the island, facing the Guanghai Hall on the Qionghua Island in North Sea. From then on, it was integrated into the imperial garden. In the Yuan Dynasty, another hall was built on the island. In succeeding Ming and Qing dynasties, many other structures were built with a city wall added around the island. By then, Round City began to take shape. The surrounding wall of Round City is 4.6 metres high, and 276 metres long with east and west gates furnished. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection.

Chengguangdian (Light Receiving Hall) is main structure here, rebuilt in 1746. It is a big square hall after the style of the watch tower in the Palace Museum. Inside the hall there is a 1.5 metre high white jade image of Buddha with its head and robe inlaid with jewels. It was a gift to Empress Dowager Cixi from Burma. There is a cut on its right arm done by the Allied Forces of the Eight Imperialist Powers in 1900.

In the courtyard stands a pavilion which houses a huge jar carved out of a single piece of dark jade. Measuring 1.36 metres in diametric and 0.7 metres high, the jar is carved with aquatic designs over its entire surface. Dragons, sea horses and fish are pictured leaping and romping in rolling waves. Records say the jar was made in 1265 and contained the wine of the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan.

Two pine trees in the Round City attract attention. They are over 800 years old. One was conferred the title of marquis by the Qing Emperor Qianlong for affording him shade. Now the Round City is used to hold seasonal exhibitions of different nature from time to time.