Park · BEIJING
Jingshan Park
景山公园 · Jǐngshān Gōngyuán
About
Artificial hill directly north of the Forbidden City, built from earth excavated for the palace moat. The aerial view from the top is the canonical Forbidden City photograph.
Jingshan ('Prospect Hill') is a 46m artificial hill built in the early Ming from soil excavated for the Forbidden City's moat. The hill was placed for fengshui — to block evil spirits from the north — and the hilltop pavilion (Wanchun Ting) gives the most-photographed view down across the Forbidden City's golden roofs. The last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, is said to have hanged himself on Jingshan in 1644 as the Manchu armies closed in.
How to get there
Walk from Forbidden City North Gate (Gate of Divine Might).
When to visit
Late afternoon golden hour for the Forbidden City view.
Other attractions in Beijing
Itineraries featuring this site
- Beijing 3-day blitz — first-timer fast pass
3d · Three full days in Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven and the hutong lanes — the absolute core of the capital for visitors with limited time.
- Beijing weekend — 3 days in the capital
3d · Three days in Beijing covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Temple of Heaven — the irreducible core of the capital, managed at a pace that avoids pure exhaustion.
- Beijing + Shanghai — 5-day first-timer classic
5d · Two of China's three great cities in five days: imperial Beijing followed by the modern skyline of Shanghai, linked by a quick domestic flight or overnight train.
- Family Beijing and Xi'an — 7 days, relaxed pace
7d · Seven days in Beijing and Xi'an at a pace that works for children: fewer sites per day, breaks built in, and activities with hands-on appeal — the Panda Base of the north and hands-on history at the Terracotta Army.
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