Fragrant Hills Park

Fragrant Hills Park also known as Xiangshan Park is a sprawling imperial garden located at the eastern foot of the Western Hills in Beijing Covering an area of 160 hectares this scenic park was originally built in 1186 during the Jin Dynasty and later expanded during the Yuan Ming and Qing dynasties The park gets its name from the large incense burner shaped peak that resembles a censer emitting fragrant smoke at sunrise and sunset The most famous feature of Fragrant Hills Park is its spectacular autumn foliage when thousands of maple trees turn brilliant shades of crimson orange and gold creating a breathtaking sea of red leaves that has inspired poets and artists for centuries Beyond the autumn spectacle the park offers numerous historical sites including ancient temples pavilions and the remains of imperial palaces The park also features the Fragrant Hills Hotel designed by renowned architect IM Pei which beautifully blends modern architecture with traditional Chinese garden design