Taoranting Park

Taoranting Park 陶然亭公園

Park built in 1956
Covers 56.56 hectares
lake covers 16 hectares
Ice skating in winter and boating in summer on the park's lakes.
Peacocks, monkeys, rabbits
historic meeting place for poets and revolutionaries
Pleasant park of lakes, pavilions and rose gardens
Place to relax and with good entertainment for children
Cafes, restaurants, shops to enjoy
Located southwest of Tiananmen Square

Taoranting Park located southwest of Tiananmen Square opened to the public in 1956.

Taoranting means "Joyous Pavilion" and refers to the Temple of Mercy which stood in the grounds of the present day park.

Taoran Ting (Taoran Pavilion) is known as one of China's four most famous historical pavilions, together with Aiwan Pavilion in Changsha, Huxin Pavilion in Hangzhou and Zuiweng Pavilion in Chuzhou, Anhui Province. Taoran Pavilion was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was a meeting point for poets, scholars and activists.

The site of the park is associated with the actions of various Chinese revolutionaries including Mao Zedong, Li Dazhao and Zhou Enlai. On the central island of the lake is the tombstone of Gao Junyu and his girlfriend Shi Pingmei.

Cibei Nunnery in the park dates from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

History

In 1985 the Park of Famous Pavilions was built in Taoranting Park and is a collection of 36 full-size replicas of the most famous pavilions from throughout China.

Besides the historic pavilions of the park, the rose gardens and boating on the lake can be enjoyed throughout the fine weather in summer and autumn. In winter the lake freezes and becomes an impromtu skating rink for the locals.

Like all Beijing's parks, Taoranting is a popular spot for people to exercise, dance, sing and practice traditional Chinese martial arts such as tai chi.