24 Hours Hotline: +86 137-3541-1378

Email:

Your Location: Home > Beijing Attractions > Zhongnanhai - Central and Southern Seas in Beijing

Zhongnanhai - Central and Southern Seas in Beijing

Overview:
Zhongnanhai (Central and Southern Seas) located in central Beijing, a royal garden complex since ancient times, is now the headquarters of the State Council of PRC, the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the General Office of CPC.
To the west of the Forbidden City lie three ‘seas’, the Northern Sea, the Central Sea and the Southern Sea. Actually they are not seas, just big lakes. The Northern Sea is now the beautiful lake inside the Beihai Park. The Central and Southern Seas are collectively referred as Zhongnanhai. With an area of 1,500 acres of which 700 acres is lake, Zhongnanhai, although a garden with exceptional scenery, is more popularly known as the symbol of China's central government and the metonym for the Chinese leadership. Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai once resided here. Now, the top leaders of the Chinese state carry out many daily administrative affairs inside Zhongnanhai.

zhongnanhai-beijing private tours.jpgzhongnanhai Political Center.jpg

Some sites in the Southern Sea area, including the Yingtai Island, Yinian Hall, the Chrysanthemum Study (Chairman Mao's former residence), had once been open to the public during important holidays and weekends between 1977 and 1985. At that time, some ordinary people’s long-cherished wish of visiting the garden came true. However, Zhongnanhai is not open to the public at present. Beijing Tourism Bureau has been actively promoting the reopening of the garden for common sightseeing. The garden now is a political synonym for mystery and solemnity. The following introduction provides an insight of this mysterious site in Beijing.

The History of Zhongnanhai
First being built in the Liao (907-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) Dynasties and expanded during the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties, Zhongnanhai witnessed the social and political changes in China for over 1,000 years. The major structure of this historic garden was formed in the Ming Dynasty when the Empire made Beijing the capital city and constructed the Forbidden City. Since the Qing Dynasty, the garden has become a political center as well as an imperial resort, where the emperor could do political work and enjoy the quiet site while escaping the summer heat. The last emperor of China, Emperor Puyi had the Regent Palace built in the garden.

Since the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Zhongnanhai had seen a number of historical events and continued to be the political center during the chaos of wartime in China. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, it became the center of CPC. The top leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De and other senior officials resided and worked in the garden at that time. The First Plenary Session of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held there, deciding the name of the country, the national flag and the national song.

At present, China’s state leaders still use Zhongnanhai as the place for handling national affairs and holding diplomatic activities such as meetings and state banquets with important foreign political leaders or delegations.

Mosted Asked Questions about Zhongnanhai - Central and Southern Seas in Beijing

Questions & Answers or Review
* Full Name
* E-mail
* Title of your review
* Your review
 

The following Beijing Private Tours may also interest you!

Duration:7 - 8 hours

Attractions(Cities):Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace

Tour Style:Immerse yourself in the Historic city of Beijing during a full-day tour of the city’s most significant historical sites: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square and the Summer Palace. The four sightseeing spots provide great insight into the palace life and the imperial court ceremonials of more than 600 years ago. Convenient round-trip transportation from your Beijing hotel/Airport/Train station is included. It is an ideal trip during your stort stay in Beijing!

View Details
From $79 p/p

Duration:5 Days, 4 Night

Attractions(Cities):Mutianyu great wall, Sanlitun, Morning market, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Nanluoguxiang Hutong

Tour Style:The overall style of the itinerary embodies an immersive journey through Beijing's imperial history and rich cultural tapestry. Each day offers a blend of iconic sightseeing experiences, such as exploring historic landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, with opportunities for cultural immersion, including traditional activities like kite flying, Tai Chi, and hutong exploration. The itinerary strikes a balance between historical exploration and authentic cultural encounters, providing travelers with a comprehensive and enriching experience of Beijing's vibrant heritage.

View Details
From $186 p/p

Duration:6 Days, 5 Nights

Attractions(Cities):Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Yonghe Temple, Confucius Temple, Imperial College, Panjiayuan Antique Market, 798 Art District, Hutong Experience, Mutianyu Great Wall , Olympic Park,Bird's Nest,Water CubeDay, Summer Palace, Beihai Park

Tour Style:Perfect for first-time visitors, this in-depth, multi-day tour hits all the highlights of Beijing, from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall of China. With a private guide to take care of the details, you can focus on exploring Beijing history, culture, wildlife, and cuisine, hassle-free. Flexible tour with a choice to enjoy the evening show: Kungfu or acrobatic, eat an authentic Chinese delicacy – Peking duck or old Beijing Hot Pot to enhance the tour experience.

View Details
From $223 p/p

Duration:2 Days, 1 Night

Attractions(Cities):Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, Nanluoguxiang Hutong, Optional activities: Legend of Kung Fu Show; Peking duck Dinner

Tour Style:Join an expert guide for a private tour of Beijing’s most fascinating destinations and UNESCO Sites, from the Forbidden City to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Take the stress out of planning transport by having hotel/Airport/Train station pickup and drop-off included. Flexible tour with a choice to enjoy an evening show or eat an authentic Chinese delicacy – Peking duck to enhance the tour experience.

View Details
From $195 p/p

Duration:7 Days, 6 Nights

Attractions(Cities):Beijing, Xian

Tour Style:Spend a week in China to explore the ancient capital Beijing & Xian by high speed train, one of the best Beijing Xian tours as well as popular china high speed train tour. Both are the must-visit city in China with lots of historical, cultural relics; It is a fine-designed tour for time-limited tourists who are interested in culture and history. Meets different people's needs with the flexible and comfortable pace. Experience the most comfortable high speed train ride from Beijing to Xian. An all-inclusive pacakge covers the transfer, guide,meals,hotels,train tickets and the entrance for the sightseeing sites in Beijing and Xian!

View Details
From $490 p/p

Live Chat

Share to

Certificate of Excellence
2012~2024

Tripadvisor

Your Way Holiday

Your Idea of Your Trip
Adults:
(>11 years old)
Children:
(2 - 11 years old)
Babies:
(< 2 years old)
Date of trip
Hotel Class
Any specific requests/interests?
Contact Information

(Your Privacy is Protected)

Full Name: *
E-mail: *
Your Age: *
Nationality: *
Online Chat ID: *
Leave your online Chat ID here. We will get in touch with you within 10 minutes.
Submit

Tailor-Made

1 to 1 tailor-made service from our professional travel advisors for the most sophisticated

Authentic

Constantly excellent reviews for attraction, hotel and service Competitive price

Value Guarantee

Local experts provide quality tours Best selected knowledgeable local guides Authentic local restaurants

Stress-free Guaranteed

7*24 hours available to create you a worry-free tour. No Hidden Fees and absolutely no pressure to buy. Secured

Who choose us

Copyright © 2017 Chinabeijingprivatetour.com All rights reserved.  浙ICP备18056007号-2

WhatsApp
Wechat
Skype
To Top