Fragrant Hills Park, Beijing, China
The Fragrant Hills is a public park at the foot of the Western Mountains in the Haidian District, and located in the northwestern part of Beijing, China. It consists of a natural pine-cypress forest, hills with maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees, as well as landscaped areas with traditional architecture and cultural relics. The name derives from the park’s highest peak – Xianglu Feng, a hill with two large stones resembling incense burners at the top.
The park was established in 1186 in the Jin Dynasty and expanded during the Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. In 1745, Emperor Qianlong ordered the addition of many new halls, pavilions and gardens and gave it a new name, Jingyi Garden, the Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure.
Many of the remains in the park were damaged by foreign troops during two major attacks. In 1860, British troops set the Old Summer Palace ablaze, burning it to the ground along with the Gardens of Perfect Brightness, causing extensive damage to many relics in the park. Another attack in 1900 by the Eight-Nation Alliance caused destruction to the park and to the Summer Palace built by Empress Dowager Cixi. Since 1949, the Chinese government has been engaged in continuous restoration and development in the area.
Epic China Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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