Qiongdiao Island, which on Russian-language maps is often labeled as Qionghua, is not just one of the objects of Beihai Park. It is its compositional and spiritual center, around which the entire imperial garden is built. The island rises 32 meters above the water and occupies an area of about 4.5 hectares, and its perimeter is 880 meters.
The entire layout of the park is subordinated to one idea: the island is the "mountain of the immortals" in the middle of the "sea," and all the rest of Beihai`s space unfolds around it.
The White Pagoda: A Tibetan Stupa on the Site of a Han Palace
The main symbol of the island and the entire park is the White Pagoda (Baita). It was built in 1651 by order of Emperor Shunzhi. According to the inscription on the stele, "a certain lama from the Western lands wished to secretly support imperial power with Buddhism and asked to erect a pagoda and temple for the longevity of the state and the protection of the people." The emperor gave his consent, and on the site of the destroyed Han palace Guanghandian a Tibetan stupa rose.
The height of the pagoda is 35.9 meters. It is built of brick and completely whitewashed. The shape is classic for Tibetan stupas: a square base in the form of a Sumeru pedestal, then a rounded "bottle body," and a long spire of thirteen discs ("thirteen heavens"). At the top — a copper umbrella and a gilded summit with images of the sun, moon, and flame, symbolizing the light of Buddhist teaching.
Inside the pagoda, which is unusual for stupas of this type, a hollow space with an altar is arranged. In the underground cache are kept Buddhist sutras, vestments, two sarira pearls, as well as many offerings: tea, fruit, medicines, fabrics, grain, and even silver and gold ingots. The pagoda survived the earthquakes of 1679 and 1976 and was restored; its modern appearance is the result of restoration in the Yongzheng era.
The Western Slope of Qiongdiao Island: Structures at the Foot of the Pagoda
The western side of the island is the most насыщенная by buildings. Here, at the foot of the pagoda, three halls are located, built along an ascending line along the western slope: Linguangdian (Hall of Jade Radiance), Ganludian (Hall of Sweet Dew), and Shuijingyu (Water Sphere). They form a symmetrical ensemble with an axis toward the White Pagoda and are surrounded by galleries.
Linguangdian ("Hall of Jade Radiance") is the western "Buddhist hall" of the Yongan Temple. The name means "the radiance of Buddha reflected in waters and clouds." In front of the hall, on the northern and southern sides, stand two paired wooden paifang arches — three-bayed, four-columned, three-tiered, with colored painting. They have no plaques with inscriptions, but they serve as an important transitional space: between the hall and the boat pier, which is located directly opposite. These arches add visual rhythm and make the space in front of the hall less "empty."
Yuegulou ("Tower of Reading Antiquities") stands lower on the slope, right by the water. This is a semicircular two-story building, constructed in 1747 by order of Emperor Qianlong. Inside its walls are mounted 495 stone slabs with engraved texts — this is the famous collection "Sanxitang Fatie," including works of 135 calligraphers from the Wei-Jin era to the end of the Ming, about 340 works in total and approximately 100,000 characters.
Two Bridges Connecting Qiongdiao Island to the Land
Yong`anqiao Bridge ("Bridge of Eternal Peace") is the main entrance to the island from the southern side. Its length is 85 meters, width — 7.6 meters. It is three-bayed, made of stone, but its plan is not straight: the bridge is bent in three places, forming a "zigzag." This was done intentionally: the axis of the Tuancheng gates on the southern shore and the axis of the Yongansi Temple on the island do not coincide by 15 meters, and the zigzag of the bridge gently connects the two different lines into one. On both sides of the bridge are 48 carved marble posts with images of lotuses.
Zhishanqiao Bridge (or Shanshanqiao) connects the island with the eastern shore. It was rebuilt in 1740 under Qianlong: the old bridge was dismantled and moved southward. The modern bridge is three-bayed, made of blue brick, with stone railings. Interestingly, during recent research under water at the northern support of the bridge, remnants of an older stone foundation were found — possibly from the Yuan or Ming era.
The Bridge by the Backwater and the Wooden Arches
Besides the main bridges, on the western side of Qiongdiao Island there is another notable object — the small "three-kneed" Yudaiqiao Bridge (Jade Belt). It is thrown across a small inner body of water formed by an artificial rock. The length of the bridge is only 17.4 meters, width — 3.88 meters. Its feature is that it is also bent in three places, and the middle span is a round arch. The railings and posts are made in the form of a jade belt, hence the name. This is the only bridge of this type in Beijing.
The wooden arches on the western side are not only decoration but also functional elements: they mark the entrance to the temple complex and serve as a landmark for those who approach the island by boat.
What Else Is Worth Seeing
On the eastern slope of Qiongdiao Island, at the foot, is the semicircular city (Banyuecheng) with the Zhizhudian Hall. The semicircular city was built in 1751, its wall has the shape of a crescent. The Zhizhudian Hall stands on a platform facing east, toward the Zhishanqiao Bridge. Inside once stood a statue of Manjushri (Bodhisattva of Wisdom).
In front of the Zhishanqiao Bridge, on the eastern shore, stands the wooden Zhizhu Arch — four-columned, three-bayed, with golden tiles. Its main feature is the multi-layered "cloud" dougong (brackets in the shape of clouds), which create a lace-like effect.
Finally, on the eastern slope stands the stele "Qiongdiao Chunyin" ("Spring Shadow of Qiongdiao Island"). It was installed in 1751 by order of Qianlong. On the front side are four characters written by the emperor`s hand, on the reverse — his poem. This is one of the "eight great views of Yanjing," and the name has become attached to the entire island as a poetic name.
Qiongdiao Island is a place where in one visit you can see a Tibetan stupa on the site of a Han palace, stone slabs with masterpieces of calligraphy, curved bridges, and arches with dragons.
