JingshanHill (Chinese:景山;Pinyin:Jǐngshān; literally "Prospect Hill") is an artificial hill inBeijing,China. It is located inXicheng District, immediately north of theForbidden Cityon the central axis of Beijing. Originally an imperial garden, it is now apublic park, known asJingshan Park(景山公园).
The 45.7-metre high artificial hill was constructed in theYongleera of theMing Dynastyentirely from the soil excavated in forming the moats of the Imperial Palace and nearbycanals. It is especially impressive when one considers that all of this material was moved only by manual labor and animal power.
According to the dictates ofFeng Shui, it is favorable to site a residence to the south of a nearby hill (and it is also practical, gaining protection from chilly northern winds). The imperial palaces in both of the other capitals of theMing dynastywere situated to the south of a hill. When the capital was moved toBeijing, no such hill existed at this location, so one was constructed. It is popularly known as "Feng Shui Hill". It is also known as Coal Hill, a direct translation of its old popular Chinese name (Chinese:煤山;Pinyin:Méishān).
The last emperor of theMing Dynasty,Chongzhen, committed suicide by hanging himself here in1644.
Relationship with the Forbidden City
Jingshan hill is separated from theForbidden Cityby the palace moat. However, until1928the park sat directly by the moat and was accessible on the south side only from theForbidden Cityvia theGate of Divine Might. In1928, a new road (New Jinghshan St) was built to the north of the palace moat. This fully separated Jingshan Hill from theForbidden City. The Gate of Divine Might became the front door of the Palace Museum, and the front gate of Jingshan Park now stood to the north of the new road.
The street addresses of both theForbidden Cityand Jingshan Park are on New Jingshan St.
The main sites of interest in the park include the Hope Tower "xiwanglou," where people still worship at a memorial tablet for Confucius, which is in the Keeping Benevolence Hall (yong'endian). The Visiting Virtue Hall (guandedian), to the north of the hill, is where the coffins of the Qing emperors and empresses lie. The 43-metre-high Million Spring Pavilion (Wanchunting) sits atop the hill. From here it is possible to appreciate a spectacular 360 degree vista of the city of Beijing. Directly to the north is Di'anmen Street, running straight as an arrow up to the Drum and Bell Towers (zhonggulou); to the east is the Yonghegong Lamasery, the Imperial College, and the Confucian Temple; to the west is Beihai Park, where the White Pagoda rises above a blue lake full of boats; and to the south is the Imperial Palace.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the park has been renovated several times. It is now famous for its peony flowers.
Apart from its flowers and views, the park is also remembered for a Chinese scholar tree that used to grow on the eastern slope of the hill. It was from this tree that the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen, hung himself. The Emperor Chongzhen took shelter in the park in 1644, when Lizicheng took Beijing for the Manchus who were to found the Qing Dynasty. Having shamed his ancestors by his defeat, Chongzhen committed suicide by hanging himself on the Chinese scholar tree. The tree no longer survives as it was destroyed in subsequent upheavels.