Western Hills

Coordinates: 39°59′27″N 116°10′21″E / 39.9908°N 116.1725°E / 39.9908; 116.1725
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Fragrant Hills, a popular park in the Western Hills
Beijing Botanical Garden

The Western Hills (Chinese: 西; pinyin: Xīshān) are the hills and mountains in the western part of Beijing.

Geography

Being an extension of the

coniferous forests and highland meadows cover much of the Western Hills. Mountain streams feed into the Yongding and Juma Rivers, which flow through the Western Hills to irrigate the plains of Beijing. Coal
is mined in Fangshan and Mentougou Districts. Natural and historical points of interest include river gorges, and hot springs, as well as temples, historic homes, secluded retreats and ancient ruins.

Also known as the Western Hills Scenic Area, the area has long been used as a retreat by Chinese scholars, religious men, and members of the government and civil service.[

Buddha statue, is located on the grounds of the botanical gardens. To the northwest of the Fragrant Hills Park are Jiufeng (Vulture Peak) Forest Park (鹫峰森林公园), Dajue Temple
, and Fenghuanling (Phoenix Ridge) Scenic Area.

South of the Fragrant Hills Park is

2008 Summer Olympic Games
was held.

Fossils of the Peking Man were discovered in the caves of Dragon Bone Hill near Zhoukoudian in Fangshan District.

The Western Hills also houses an underground command center of the

Pentagon.[1]

Mao Zedong briefly lived in the Western Hills, and the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party retreated there briefly in 1989.[2]

CCTV Tower
, with the Western Hills in the distance and the Summer Palace visible at the far right.

Western Hills Group

The Kuomintang (KMT) also had a secret group named Western Hills, established in 1925. Revolutionary Sun Yat-sen's coffin was kept there, with the group's members being Buddhist, believing that the presence of Sun Yat-sen's body could bless them.[citation needed]

The group had a political goal of ousting the Communist Left, headed by Mikhail Borodin, from the KMT.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "China's military center off-limits". The Washington Times.
  2. ^ "Western Hills". travelotica.com.
  3. ^ Spense, The Search for Modern China, p.326

External links

39°59′27″N 116°10′21″E / 39.9908°N 116.1725°E / 39.9908; 116.1725