The Round City (Tuancheng), originally an islet in Taiye Lake, was part of Daning Palace (Grand Palace of Tranquility) during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). It was called Yuandi or Yingzhou during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). In 1264, (Yitian Hall) was built within the Round City. The hall was renamed Hall of Receiving Brilliance in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).The Round City occupies an area of 4,500 square meters, surrounded by a 4.6-meter high and 276-meter long city wall. The Hall of Receiving Brilliance collapsed during an earthquake in 1669, but was rebuilt in 1690 and expanded in 1746 to what it is now. The Round City has a distinctive courtyard with halls, pavilions and ancient trees; a white jade Buddha statue is enshrined in the Hall of Receiving Brilliance; and a jade liquor pot named Dushan Dayuhai dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) is kept in the Pavilion of the Jade Liquor Pot. In 1900, the Round City was damaged by the invading troops of the Eight-Power Allied Forces. The Yanxiang Gate Tower was destroyed, the left arm of the white jade Buddha statue was damaged; all the other valuable cultural relics were looted. After the founding of the People 's Republic of China, the Round City was rebuilt. In 1961, both the Round City and Beihai Park were listed by the State Council as Key National Cultural Heritage Sites.
