Tracing the Imperial Hunting Grounds: From Nanhaizi to Nanyuan

Amid the wetlands and marshes 10 kilometers south of Beijing lies Nanhaizi, an imperial hunting ground that carries a thousand years of memory. From the Liao Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, it retained its wetland character—“abundant in all seasons, vast as the sea”—and served as a vital water conservation area for the capital.

在北京城南二十里的湿地与泽渚之间，有一片承载千年记忆的皇家猎场——南海子。从辽代到清代，它一直保持“四时不竭，汪洋若海”的湿地面貌，是京城重要的水源涵养地。

"Today, I have come to Nanhaizi Park in south Beijing. This place once served as the imperial hunting ground for five dynasties—Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. In the Ming Dynasty, it was even listed as one of the 'Ten Scenic Spots of Yanjing.'"

“今天我来到了北京南部的南海子公园。这里曾是辽、金、元、明、清五个朝代的皇家猎苑，在明代，这里被列为被列为燕京十景之一。”

The history of Nanhaizi can be traced back to the Liao Dynasty. In 1153, when Emperor Hailing of the Jin Dynasty moved the capital to Yanjing, a royal hunting ground was established beside the Jianchun Palace south of Zhongdu city—making it the earliest imperial hunting ground in the Beijing area.

For centuries, the hoofbeats of emperors’ horses and the circling of hunting falcons from the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties echoed across this land. After Kublai Khan established Dadu as the capital, the area became known as Xia Ma Feifangbo and served as the site of the Mongol nobility’s chun nabo—their springtime fishing and hunting ritual. With its low-lying terrain and interlacing waterways, Nanhaizi remained not only an imperial hunting ground from the Liao and Jin to the Yuan dynasties, but also a natural resource base supporting the growth of the capital.

南海子的历史可追溯至辽代，金代时，1153年海陵王迁都燕京，中都城南“建春宫”旁便设“围场”，为帝王狩猎之所，是北京地区最早的皇家猎场。

辽、金、元三代帝王的马蹄与鹰隼都曾在此驰骋盘旋。

到忽必烈定都大都后，这里被称为“下马飞放泊”，成为蒙古贵族“春捺钵”（春季渔猎活动）的水泽。南海子地势低洼、河道交汇，从辽金到元朝，这片湿地既是皇家猎场，又是城市发展的天然资源后盾。

The word “hai” in Nanhaizi literally means “sea,” but this place is nowhere near the ocean. Why is it called “hai”? The term “haizi” did not originate in the Central Plains but came from Mongolian usage. The Mongols lived inland and only heard that the sea was a place with a vast amount of water. So whenever they saw a large body of water, they called it “haizi.” After Kublai Khan built the Yuan capital Dadu, the term “haizi” was also applied to water bodies around Beijing. Even today, many places in the city still bear the name “hai,” such as the famous Beihai Park.

南海子的“海”是sea，这里并不靠海，为什么要叫“海”呢？

“海子”这一名称不是源于中原地区，而是从蒙古地区的称呼而来。只要见到面积较大的水汇之处，便称为海子。元世祖忽必烈建元大都后，北京地区也有了海子的名称。

北京还有很多地方都以海相称，比如著名的北海公园。

During the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, Nanhaizi underwent large-scale expansion. Every autumn, when the air turned crisp and clear, the green trees, blue skies, red fruits, and golden leaves created a distinctive scene known as “Autumn Breeze at the Southern Park,” earning it a place among the “Ten Scenic Spots of Yanjing.”

After the Qing Dynasty entered Beijing, Nanhaizi was renamed “Nanyuan,” with its area further enlarged and its architectural layout becoming increasingly grand. Emperor Shunzhi even handled state affairs within the garden, setting a precedent for “governing from within the park,” which elevated Nanyuan into an important political and cultural center alongside the Forbidden City and the “Three Hills and Five Gardens.” During the Qianlong period, the water system was renovated, making Nanhaizi a reliable water source and transport safeguard for southern Beijing. It not only embodied the grandeur of imperial authority but also safeguarded the city’s ecology and lifeline.

明永乐年间，南海子大规模扩建。每到秋高气爽之时，碧树晴云、果红叶黄，景色独特，被誉为“南囿秋风”，跻身“燕京十景”。

清代入关后，将南海子更名为“南苑”，面积进一步扩展，建筑布局也日益恢宏。顺治皇帝在园中处理政务，开创了“居园理政”的先例，使南苑成为紫禁城和“三山五园”之外又一个重要的政治文化中心。乾隆时期，对水系进行整治，使南海子成为京南水源与漕运的稳固保障，既承载皇权威仪，也守护着北京的生态与生命线。

With the change of dynasties, the layout and functions of Nanhaizi continued to evolve. As history entered the modern era, Nanhaizi gradually lost the former glory of an imperial preserve, yet it also gave birth to new life.

朝代更替，南海子的格局与功能不断演进。历史的脚步进入近现代，南海子逐渐失去昔日皇家禁苑的辉煌，却也孕育了新生。

It may be hard to imagine that in the 1980s this park was once wasteland and a landfill. After renovation, it was reborn with shaded trees and sprawling lakes, becoming a vital ecological shield for southern Beijing.

可能很难想象，这个公园在上世纪八十年代一度是荒地、垃圾填埋场。经过改造，这里再现了绿树成荫、湖泊成片的景象，成为北京城南的重要生态屏障。

Today, Nanhaizi Park is a shining pearl on the banks of the Yongding River, playing a vital role in conserving ecological water resources. After years of ecological restoration and protection, the park is now home to more than 300 species of wild animals, including mammals and birds, as well as over 200 species of vascular plants. Significant progress has been made in the conservation and development of biodiversity in the Nanhaizi area.

今天的南海子公园，是永定河畔的一颗明珠，发挥着生态水源涵养的重要作用。通过多年的生态保护建设，南海子公园现有哺乳类、鸟类等野生动物共300余种，维管束植物200余种，南海子地区生物多样性保护和发展取得显著成绩。

From royal hunting ground to wetland park; from wasteland and landfill to a modern ecological haven—Nanhaizi reflects the wisdom of restoring balance between people and nature, culture and ecology. As visitors stroll among the reeds and watch herds of deer, they also witness the continuation of Beijing’s cultural and ecological heritage. Once a forbidden imperial garden, Nanhaizi has truly become a garden for the people.

从皇家猎场，到湿地公园；从荒地与垃圾填埋场，到现代生态乐园。南海子展现了人与自然、文化与生态重新平衡的智慧。当游客在芦苇间漫步、观赏鹿群时，也见证了北京文化与生态的延续。南海子，这个曾经的皇家禁苑，如今真正成为了人民的花园。

出品人：王晓辉

Executive Producer: Wang Xiaohui

总监制：薛立胜

Chief Supervisor: Xue Lisheng

总策划：蔚力

Chief Planner: Yu Li

制片：张芃芃

Producer: Zhang Pengpeng

策划：张芃芃 丁素云 曹川川 李颖

Creative Planning: Zhang Pengpeng, Ding Suyun, Cao Chuanchuan, Li Ying

导演：龚小磊

Director: Gong Xiaolei

撰稿：张芃芃

Screenwriter: Zhang Pengpeng

主持人：荣希玛 (Chaima El Moujradi) 劳拉 (Laura Ugalde) 德密柰 (Marina Dech)

Hosts: Chaima El Moujradi, Laura Ugalde, Marina Dech

摄像：李春浩 王恺琦

Cinematography: Li Chunhao, Wang Kaiqi

跟机：王俊胜

Camera Assistant: Wang Junsheng

剪辑：王恺琦 顾钧予 刘泽敖

Editing: Wang Kaiqi, Gu Junyu, Liu Zeao

调色：康凯

Color Grading: Kang Kai

混音：康凯

Sound Mixing: Kang Kai

推广：孟超 李昭 姜壹平 苏向东 丁素云 王雁青 葛蕾 秦金月 张静

Promotion: Meng Chao, Li Zhao, Jiang Yiping, Su Xiangdong, Ding Suyun, Wang Yanqing, Ge Lei, Qin Jinyue, Zhang Jing

节目承制：大音

Produced by: NEWSAYING (Shanghai) Consulting and Planning Co., Ltd.