Moving west-ward from the Main WanChun Pavilion along the Jingshan Hill-ridge we encounter the other Pavilions, the first being Jifang Pavilion.
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Built at the Time of the Reign of the Last Dynasties' most successful Emperor Qianlong, the Jifang Pavilion has been constructed in Ming/Ching Dynastic style. Since the Qing were very traditional rulers , Ming and Qing dynastic styles of Architecture generally do not differ much.
The Qing Emperors were devout Lamaist-Buddhist , so the Bronze Statue that was held in this Pagoda must have been a magnificent piece.
As mentioned Qianlong was one of the Qing Dynasties most successful Emperors (building on the works of Kang Hsi, longest reigning Emperor and his Father) and under his reign the Chinese Empire was greatly expanded gaining among others the New Territories , XinJiang (Uygur AR) in the far West.
Unfortunatly , eversince the Punitive invasion by European Allied Forces in 1900 , the Pagoda remains empty.
Looking East , we see only the stairs leading up to WanChun Pavillion and the Top of Prospect Hill.
At the end of the 19Th Century , when the Qing Dynasty was in steady decline, much of China had been invaded and taken over under Concession by the European powers of England, France and Germany with enthousiastic support of a range of other interested nations.
furthering their own manipulations
(China was under concession, not invaded). However, the now open hostility of the Qing House and Citizenry forced the Europeans to rethink their act. They did not. Instead, when the Beijing Emassies in the "Legations Quarter" were besieged, the Allied answer was the declaration of yet another suppressive war.
In reaction to revolt by the Imperial House itself, the European Powers sent their armies into China and on to Beijing , in a show of Force, pillaging and looting the Lot.
While the Emperor cowered at his Summer Palace, the Europeans carted off all the valuables they could carry. Not coincidentally, the Forces responsible for the pillaging of the Royal Palace resorted under the Younger Lord Elgin, who was the Son of the British General that had ordered the entire Pantheon of Athens carted off to London City.
Walking West-ward down Jingshan-ridge with a view of Beihai Park and its White Buddhist Dagoba dating back to the 17th Century.
All 5 Buddha's at the 5 Pavilions were stolen part of the damage done when the Jingshan Park, Imperial Palace, and much of the rest of the City of Beijing were looted in 1900 AD when armies of no less than 7 allied nations overwhelmed the city. It was the second plunder, a new humiliation after the burning of the Imperial Summer Palace in the second opium war in 1858 AD.
Reportedly, in 1900 at the culimination of the victory of the west over yet another Chinese uprising against it, only the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) and the North-West of the City were spared from devastation.
The Fulan Pavillion with its 2 tiered glazed tile roof. Empty except for an Altar.
Finding another Empty Pavilion on your way west and down. All pavilions have been restored and repainted in the year 2006 AD, however the pricesless statues remain Lost in Time.
The Chinese defeat in the 1900 AD Boxer War was the so manieth successive National Humiliation they endured since the opening shots of the first Opium War of 1840 AD to 1842 AD. Since then there had been a second opium war, two lengthy National Rebelions against the Foreigners and the Ruling Dynasty, the defeat by the Japanese losing Korea and Taiwan, war
When the Chinese Revolted against this Foreign domination and pillaging of their lives in the so called Boxer rebellion , the Empress Dowager Cixi (Hsu Zsi) supported the Rebels , thereby taunting the Europeans. So far the Europeans had been quite happy to keep the Qing House in power, thereby
View of an Empty Altar and the Path to the Top of Jinsghan leading away.
Much of the stolen collections have been returned into Chinese hands during the Last Century, however .. many other pieces remain in London, Paris or somewhere in Germany. Many others wound up in in private collections around the World.
The Magnificent view of Beihai's WhiteDagoba, erected for the occassion of the Visit of the 5Th Dalia Lama to the Court in Beijing.
Empty Pavilion on a Windy Jingshan Ridge
indemnities, corruption and intrigue, unlimited freedoms for Foreigners in China (extra-territoriality) and more, much more.
In fact, after the "Boxer War" was over China was left utterly defenseless against any foreign aggression, and Governed in all but name of the Foreigners. It proved fatal for the Feudal Qing Dynasty, which ended in 1910 AD with the abdication of the Throne.
Read More on the Boxer War in our 11 Page Report and Photo-Virtual Walk of the Foreign Legations Quarter.
After having made ones way to the top of Jingshan and back down the other side of the rim there is plenty more space to explore within the park.
Although Jingshan Park is not as wide as the Forbidden City to the south of it, most visitors are surpised to find that the park hides space for a Forest, a section with Rose & Peony Gardens and scenic spot of the Childrens Palace Hall (Shou Huang Dian) which stands on the north foot of the mountain. As if that were not enough, the entire Palace Museum and its multitude of treasures and wonderful sights lies in reach to the south. Due to the west one can walk to the south gate of north lake (Beihai) Park, and explore the yet another much larger Imperial pleasure garden. Unfortunately, the favorite Palace of the Empress Dowager Cixi has later been claimed by the leadership of the Communist Party of China which is why the third spectacular Palace Garden, the South-Middle Lake (Zhongnanhai) remains off limits to the general public and just about anyone with a camera. Its limits are jealously guarded.
For your convenience make use of adjacent satellite image based map to orientate yourself on other landmarks in vicinity and/or naviagte your way through the Jingshan Park.
