Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park sits directly north of the Forbidden City and served for centuries as the private imperial garden of the Ming and Qing emperors. Only in 1928, after the fall of the monarchy, did the 23-hectare site open to the public. Its centerpiece is an artificial hill built from earth excavated when the Forbidden City's moat was dug, placed precisely on Beijing's north-south axis. On its summit stands the Wanchun Ting pavilion, where in 1644 the last Ming emperor Chongzhen hanged himself from a tree as rebel armies entered the capital. Today visitors climb the stone steps for what is widely considered the finest view over the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City. In the mornings locals practice tai chi and sword forms here, and in the evenings choirs gather among the peony beds.