Jingshan Park, also known as the Coal Hill or Prospect Hill, was an imperial garden of the Forbidden City until the early 1900's when the walls were pulled down and a road cut through it destroying several gates and buildings between the park and the rear entrance of the palace. The hill in Jingshan Park was made with the earth removed to create the palace moat. It is well worth the climb on a clear day for spectacular views of the Forbidden City and Beijing.
Covering a space of 23 hectares, Jingshan was not open to the public until 1928. The best view of Beijing is from the Pavilion of Everlasting Spring (Wanchun Pavilion) perched on top of the middle peak, which used to be the highest point in the city. Climbing up to the Pavilion, one could get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City and its surroundings.
Northwards, one can see the Drum and Bell Towers, a traditional feature of old Chinese cities. To the northwest, the two slabs of water of the Shichahai and Beihai Lake are intersected by Di’anmen Street. To the south, the golden roofs of the Imperial Palace can be seen stretching into the distance.
Just north of the Imperial Palace, the site occupied by Coal Hill was a private park reserved for the use of the emperor in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). During the Ming (1368-1644), an artificial hill with five peaks was made, utilizing earth excavated when the moat of the Imperial Palace was dug.
At the southern approach is the Gorgeous View Tower (Qiwanglou). Previously visited by emperors coming to pay their respects at an altar to Confucius, it is now an exhibition venue for displays of paintings, porcelain and calligraphy.
On the eastern slope there used to be an old tree (said to be cassia) from which Chongzhen, the last Ming emperor, is supposed to have hanged himself in 1644. According to one version of the incident, the emperor decamped to the hill upon hearing that rebels intent on overthrowing the dynasty had already stormed the city. He had evidently retreated in some disarray: he wore no head-dress, had only one shoe, and the sleeves of his robe were freshly stained with the blood of his consort and two princesses. The story goes that he committed suicide with his own belt. The spot was once marked by a stone tablet. Later emperors in the early Qing, passing this place to go to the Hall of Imperial Longevity behind the hill, were required to alight from their sedan-chairs and proceed past the tablet on foot, perhaps in order to show more humility when contemplating the salutary example of an unpopular predecessor.
Now the park, a popular holiday resort, is a gathering place for dancing, singing, and theater lovers. The Hall of Imperial Longevity in the north has been transformed into Beijing Children’s Palace where youngsters can enjoy daily extracurricular activities in dancing, singing, music and art.
