Moistened and greened by the early rains and breezes this year, the Huangchenggen (Ancient Wall of the Imperial City) Relics Park is entering its first spring. Along the paths and on the lawns, the gardenias, magnolias, pink flowering almonds and purple-leaved plums are already in blossom, ahead of the lilac and Chinese flowering crab-apple trees. The willow branches swaying in the breeze are already green.

Spring brings vitality to the Huangchenggen Relics Park. Old people sit on the benches chatting and enjoying the bright sunshine while carefree, energetic children play here and there and fly their kites.

Just a year ago, this place was occupied by dilapidated single-story houses. In the past, forested land was often cleared for building houses, but now, the situation has changed. Many old buildings have been torn down to expand the green area. Early last fall, after half a year's construction under the planning of the municipal government, the Huangchenggen Relics Park, with its exquisite design, beautiful environment, and cultural atmosphere, opened to the public. The park is 2,800 meters long and 29 meters wide and covers an area of 81,200 square meters, of which more than 90 percent is green.

A father and his son in the park	Near the Red Building, the original site of Peking University, is Turning a New Page in History. It shows a corner of a newspaper dated May 4, 1919, with photos of the revolutionary pioneers	A restored section of the Imperial City wall in the northern part of the park
Playing Chess depicts old customs in the compound houses of Beijing.		At the southern gate of the park is a large stone bearing the layout of the Imperial City cast in metal.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1638-1911), the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City was the center of the urban area of Beijing and was encircled by the Imperial City, the Inner City, and the Outer City. The Imperial City went from what is now Chang'an Avenue in the south to Ping'an Avenue in the north, and from East Huangchenggen Road in the east to West Huangchenggen Road in the west. Tian'anmen was the south gate.

Inside the Imperial City were the imperial gardens and temples including Zhongnanhai (Central South Sea), Beihai (North Sea), the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Sheji Altar (Altar of Land and Grain), and Coal Hill in addition to the Forbidden City. A hundred years ago, the mighty and solemn Imperial Palace was closely guarded by the high city wall, and common people were not allowed to go near it.

Today, the Huangchenggen Relics Park has become the largest greening project in the urban area of Beijing. There are four special areas, known as Plum Blossoms and Orchids in Spring Rain, Fresh Imperial Spring in Summer, Silver Maples in Autumn, and Emerald Green Bamboo and Pines in Winter. Together, they contain more than 3,000 trees and 44,000 bushes in dozens of species as well as 40,000 square meters of lawn.

Foreigners enjoying a stroll in the Park	Dewdrops is made up of 32 bright and clean dewdrop-like shapes in different sizes
Sightseeing cars passing the original site of the Sino-French University.	Children flying kites on the square in the park	The writer Lao She lived in this house, a typical compound house of Beijing. Now the house is open to visitors as a memorial to Lao She.

Sculptures and reliefs including Metal-Cast Layout of the Imperial City, Space Dialogue, Playing Chess, Turning a New Page in History, and Dewdrops stand among the trees and flowers. They are specially created to fit in with the different historic sites near the park, and they give visitors a glimpse of the history and customs of old Beijing. The Huangchenggen Relics Park features many historic and cultural sites. Near the southwestern corner of the park is the former location of the Western Returned Scholars Association. The building was an imperial ancestral temple in the past. To the north, at No. 19 of the Fengfu Hutong on West Dengshikou Street, is the Small Red Persimmon Courtyard, the former house of the well-known Chinese writer Lao She. At the corner of Shatan Road is the Red Building, where the students of Peking University launched the May Fourth Movement in 1919. Near the northeastern end of the park, stands a building in a combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles, formerly the Sino-French University, established in the early 20th century.