Zhongnanhai 中南海

中南海 Zhongnanhai                         

歌曲: 前程錦繡

北京、承德、天津 Scenic Beijing-Chengde-Tianjin

Zhongnanhai is an area in central Beijing, China adjacent to the Forbidden City which serves as the central headquarters for the Communist Party of China and the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

The name of the Zhongnanhai complex, located west of the Forbidden City, means "central and southern seas/lakes", referring to two lakes (the "Central Sea" and "Southern Sea") located within the compound; it is sometimes translated as "Sea Palaces". These two lakes are part of a series of irrigation projects carried out during the construction of the nearby Forbidden City.

These three lakes (Southern, Central, and Northern Seas) were originally an imperial leisure garden, with parklands on the shores of each lake, enclosed by a wall. Most of the pavilions, shrines, and temples survive from this period. Whereas the Northern lake had a religious focus, the shores of Central and Southern lakes were dotted with a number of palaces.

中南海位于中国北京市西城区西长安街街道，现在是中华人民共和国国务院、中共中央书记处和中共中央办公厅等重要机关辦公所在地。中华人民共和国成立後，许多党和国家领导人也住在这里，被视为中国共产党和中华人民共和国政府高层的象徵。中南海佔地100公顷，其中水面约50公顷。

狭义的“中南海”仅指北京故宫西侧的两个连通的湖——中海和南海。历史上北海、中海、南海统称“太液池”。

Sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongnanhai     http://www.360doc.com