the nine dragon wall in Beihai Park, Beijing

Apart from these walls, there are also screen walls with one, three or five dragons in different parts of the country. There are screen walls located in each of the side palace courtyards at the Forbidden City. Whether made of wood, carved from marble or glazed tile, they are all fine works featuring designs that symbolize good luck.

Several carved in brick or color-painted screen walls found in China's eastern provinces bear images of the strange animal called tan. According to local beliefs, this animal was so greedy that it wanted to devour the rising sun over the sea, meeting its own death by drowning. The picture serves as a reminder that greed leads to self-destruction.

In the vicinity of the Five DragonPavilionin Beihai Park, there is a so-called "iron screen wall" -- a relic from theYuan Dynastyof the 13th century. At first glance, it appears to have been cast in iron but it is actually a piece of volcanic rock. Carved on it in a vivid style are lions playing with a ball on one side and, on the other, a legendary unicorn. The wall is noted for its antiquity and simplicity.