Overview

北海、中南海，亦名"西苑"，"太液池"。始建于金代，历经元、明、清，不断增建、扩建而成。明、清时，为皇家御苑。民国时期，曾作为总统府，也曾辟为公园。中南海这是一个令人崇敬和向往的地方。因为那里是党中央和国务院的所在地，是中国领袖们工作和生活的地方，是我们国家社会主义大业的谋划中心、决策中心和指挥中心。Zhongnanhai (Beihai) is also called "Xiyuan" or "Taiyechi". It dated from Jin Dynasty, and has been continuously built out and extended in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty. It acted as a royal garden in Ming and Qing Dynasty, and a presidential office, or a park, in the Republican period. Now, Zhongnanhai is a worshipful and glamorous place, since the Party Central Committee and the State Council are located and China's leaders work and live there, and it is the planning, decision-making and command center for the socialism establishment.