Tibetan Tower of Beihai Park in Beijing 1 oz. Silver Coin

The image on the reverse of Series 2 silver coins features famous Chinese landmarks located around the host city, Beijing. These landmarks are all closely associated with China and will undoubtedly be images seen and represented during the Beijing 2008 Olympics. This coin features the Tibetan Tower of Beihai Park.

The left side of the coin, about 1/3 of the area, is divided by the "Chinese traditional Ruyi" decoration, with colored design on Chinese traditional lacquer ware. Watch the official series II video!

The Beihai Park (Chinese: 北海公园; Pinyin: Běihăi Gōngyuán) is an imperial garden northwest of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Initially built in the 10th century, it is a typical Chinese garden. Before the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, this area was part of the Forbidden City; since 1925, it is open to the public.

The Park has an area of more than 700,000 m², with a water area that covers more than half of the entire Park. At the center of the Park is an island called Qiongdao Island with a highest point of 32 m. In the north area of the park is a big pool called Taiye Pool connecting the two other pools, which are called Middle Sea and South Sea respectively. Therefore the Taiye Pool is also called Beihai (Northern Sea).

Beihai literally means "Northern Sea". There are also corresponding "Central" and "Southern Seas" (Zhongnanhai). The complex of buildings around Zhongnanhai houses China's paramount leaders. (Source: Wikipedia)

In 1651, the White Dagoba, a Buddhist tower in Tibetan style (and the famous landmark of both Beihai Park and Beijing), was erected at the suggestion of a famous Tibetan Lama priest by the name of NomHan. Qing Emperor Shun Zhi agreed to this project as a gesture of devotion to the Buddhist faith - and from a desire for unity among China's various nationalities.(Source: Kinabaloo)

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