Taoran-Pavilion Park (literally “the park of content and carefreeness”) is located on the northwest side of Taoran Bridge on the South No.2 Ringroad. It covers an area of 56.56 hectares, with 16.15 of lake area. Set up in 1952, it is the first park built in Beijing after the founding of PRC. This place has been famous since ancient times and holds diverse historical relics. The renowned Taoran Pavilion and the Nunnery of Benevolence are both situated here. It is a place of both lovely garden scenery and rich cultural sights. On the island in the centre of the lake there are two hills—Jinqiudun (the mound of the rich autumn) and Yantou Hill (the hill in the shape of a swallow’s head). On the top of Jinqiudun is the site of Huaxian Temple (the temple of the Fairy of Flowers). To the south of the temple at the bottom of the hill you can see Rose Hill which is the site of Yuanxiang Tomb, Parrot Tomb and the Tomb of Saijinhua (1970/1864-1936, a legendry prostitute of China). In the secluded pine woods to the north of the temple is situated the famous Gaojun House and Shi Pinmei Tomb. On the top of Yantou Hill you can see Lancui Pavilion. As the name suggest, it is the perfect place to view the lake and the mountains. Inside Taoran-pavilion Park there is a small park called the Park of the Famed Pavilions of China. It was built in 1985 in the imitation of a select series of the well-known pavilions in China. Inside you can find the replicas of Duxing Pavilion (the pavilion of the only one who is sober) in Hunan Province in honour of Qu Yuan (a famous patriotic poet in the Warring States Period of China), Shaoling Caotang Tablet Pavilion in Sichuan Province in honour of Du Fu (a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty), Orchid Pavilion and Erchi Tablet Pavilion in honour of Wang Xizhi (the most famous calligrapher of China of the Jin Dynasty); Two-Fountain Pavilion in Jiangxi Province in honour of Lu Yu (a famous writer of Tang), Jinyue Pavilion (the pavilion of the dipping moon) in Jiangxi Province in honour of Bai Juyi (a celebratede poet of Tang), and Zuiweng Pavilion (the pavilion of the tipsy old ma
n) in Anhui Province in honour of Ou Yangxiu (a distinguished writer and historian of the Earlier Song Dynasty). In addition, there are Zhexian Pavilion (the pavilion of the descending Fairy) built in the contemporary times in honour of the most well-known poet of China, Li Bai, as well as Yunhui Tower and Qingyin Pavilion (the pavilion of heavenly music) which were removed from Zhongnanhai (the central government of China). With all these delicate replicas, tourists can appreciate Chinese-style architecture in Taoran-Pavilion Park without going into the trouble of too much travel.
Taoran-Pavilion Park Attractions:
Taoran-Pavilion Park Story
The Site of Sai Jinhua Tomb
Sai Jinhua Tomb is located on Jinqiu Mount in Taoran-Pavilion Park. Sai Jinhua (1871-1936) is a legendry Chinese prostitute. Sai was very beautiful as a girl, and was sold into prostitution. In 1887, Hong Jun, who came first in the highest imperial examination, met Sai by chance and took her as his second concubine. The previous prostitute thus became “Mrs. First”. At that time, Hong was 48 and Sai was only 15. Not long after that, Hong was app
ointed the Chinese Minister to Reich. Sai accompanied him abroad as “Mrs. Minister”. She was introduced to the Emperor and the Queen of Reich who were greatly impressed by Sai’s beauty and class. During her three-year stay in Reich, Sai learned to speak fluent German.
In the early 1890s, Hong and Sai returned to China. Soon Hong died of illness. Then Sai was in her twenties. She went back to Shanghai and picked up her old business. After a while, she came up to Beijing and became extremely well-known throughout the city. Because Sai liked to dress in man’s clothes, she was also called “Junior Master Sai”.
In 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing and started to kill and pillage. One night several soldiers knocked at the door of Sai’s house. Sai came out and greeted them. The soldiers were taken by surprised to see that a famous prostitute of China could speak good German. Sai told them that she was a friend of the Emperor William Ⅱ and Queen Victoria; she also showed them the picture of the three of them taken years ago. The soldiers recognized the Emperor and the Queen, and immediately saluted her.
The next day the German soldiers sent a car to pick up Sai to meet Waldersee, the commander of the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Sai had some experience in dealing with foreign affairs and was a very skillful speaker. At that time there was a lot of killing going on in Beijing. Rumor has it that Sai said to Waldersee, “Reich is a civilized country and values reputation as much as life. Its army should be known for its discipline, not savageness.” The next day, Waldersee issued an order forbidding violence. The story got out and Sai was called “Junior Master Sai the Negotiator” for having saved the people from sufferings.
Afterwards, Sai married again. After her husband died, she returned to Beijing. Although young no longer, she was still an elegant sight. Soon she married a senator of the then Chinese national government, Wesley. After Wesley died four years later, Sai became destitute and moved to the ghetto of Beijing, living on other people’s donations. In 1936, Sai reached the end of her life. With the help of some donors, Sai was buried on Jinqiu Mount. Zhang Daqian, a renowned Chinese painter, provided to do her portrait, and Qi Baishi, another celebrated painter, wrote the inscription for her tombstone.
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