Covering an area of 24 hectares (60 acres), the Zhongshan Park lies west of Tian'anmen Gate. About a thousand years ago, this park used to be the site of Xingguosi (Temple of National Revival) in the northeastern part of the city of Yanjing (Yan Capital, the old name of Beijing) during the Liao and Jin dynasties (9l6-l234). The original buildings vanished long ago, but some of the ancient cypresses still survive. During the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1403-1424), when Beijing was made the capital in 1420, the Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple) and the Shejitan (Altar of Land and Grain) were built. The altar was erected in 1421. In 1914, it was converted into the Central Park, and in l928 it got its present name: Zhongshan Park, in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Since l949, it has greatly improved both in natural beauty and in recreational facilities.

Yonghegong

     After the death of his father, Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Forbidden City. The compound was closed to ordinary people and was renamed Yonghegong (the Palace of Harmony). Green roof tiles were replaced by yellow ones to suit a monarch's home. In 1744 his successor Emperor Qianlong converted the palace into a lamasery.

     Several renovations have been carried out since 1949. The temple has taken on a new look and was reopened to the public in 1981. It is now not only a functional lama temple, but also a tourist attraction.