[Photo via Tsinghua University]

Beijing has added nine sites to its register of protected historic gardens in the second round of listings. The newly listed sites include the Beijing Confucian Temple and Imperial College in Dongcheng District; Tsinghua Garden, Dajue Temple, the Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics Park (Haidian Section), Bussiere Garden, and Wanshou Temple in Haidian District; Tanzhe Temple and Jietai Temple in Mentougou District; and the Relics of the Tuanhe Temporary Palace in Daxing District. The additions bring the total number of protected historic gardens in Beijing to 34.

[Photo via VCG]

The Imperial College, also known as the Taixue (太学) or Guoxue (国学), served as the country's highest seat of learning and its national education authority during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Its main buildings are still remarkably well preserved after more than 700 years, making it the only fully preserved site of an ancient imperial college of its rank in China.

[Photo via VCG]

The Haidian Section of the Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics Park covers two sections of the former city wall, Xitucheng and Beitucheng, which together stretch 4.2 kilometers. Built on the remains of the Yuan Dynasty capital's city walls, the park integrates cultural heritage preservation, water management, and landscape design, giving residents a scenic place to relax.

[Photo via VCG]

Tanzhe Temple, established during the Western Jin Dynasty, is the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Beijing. Dajue Temple stands on the site of a Liao Dynasty temple and incorporates garden design techniques from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

[Photo via Publicity Department of the CPC Daxing District Committee]

The Relics of the Tuanhe Temporary Palace preserves the remains of the grandest imperial garden in Nanyuan under the Qing Dynasty. Its design combines the layout of Jiangnan gardens with the architectural style of imperial residences in northern China. The park is now open to the public free of charge and, together with Nanhaizi Park, forms an ecological and cultural landscape belt in southern Beijing.

Beijing established its register of protected historic gardens in 2015. The initial list covered 25 parks, including the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven Park, Fragrant Hills Park, and Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park.

(Source: The Beijing News)